Clark College vs. HCC- Highline

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark College in Vancouver, WA with Highline College in Des Moines, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clark College is larger than HCC- Highline based on total student enrollment (7,463 students vs. 5,592 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Clark College is located in Vancouver, WA (Midsize City setting); Highline College is in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Clark College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Clark College 12:1; Highline College 13:1.

Clark College vs. HCC- Highline Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark College or HCC- Highline? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Highline College than Clark College ($11,783 vs. $13,528).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12% lower than at Clark College ($15,228 vs. $17,310).
• Clark College is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC- Highline (about $461 more per year; $5,233.00 vs. $4,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 109.7% higher at Clark College than at Highline College (about $5,851 more per year; $11,183.00 vs. $5,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clark College than at Highline College (68% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highline College students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Clark College students ($7,026 vs. $6,632).

Clark College vs. HCC- Highline Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clark College or HCC- Highline? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between HCC- Highline and Clark College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clark College - Open admission; HCC- Highline - Open admission.

Clark College vs. HCC- Highline Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clark College and HCC- Highline? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Highline College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Clark College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $38,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Clark College graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,500).
• Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clark College graduates ($77 vs. $129).
• More HCC- Highline graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clark College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 32%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.