HCC- Highline vs. LCC

Deciding between Highline College and Lower Columbia College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HCC- Highline Des Moines, WA
  • LCC Longview, WA
  • Setting
  • HCC- Highline Large Suburban
  • LCC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC- Highline 5,592
  • LCC 2,724
  • Type
  • HCC- Highline Public 2 Year
  • LCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HCC- Highline
  • LCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HCC- Highline -
  • LCC -
  • Status
  • HCC- Highline Non-profit
  • LCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HCC- Highline
  • LCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HCC- Highline $4,772
  • LCC $4,626
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HCC- Highline $5,332
  • LCC $6,003
  • Room & Board
  • HCC- Highline $15,228
  • LCC $17,310
  • Average Net Price
  • HCC- Highline $11,783
  • LCC $9,950
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HCC- Highline $7,026
  • LCC $6,564
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HCC- Highline 66%
  • LCC 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HCC- Highline -
  • LCC -
  • Admitted
  • HCC- Highline -
  • LCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HCC- Highline Open
  • LCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • HCC- Highline Open
  • LCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • HCC- Highline
  • LCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • HCC- Highline
  • LCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • HCC- Highline -
  • LCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HCC- Highline -
  • LCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • HCC- Highline Unavailable
  • LCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • HCC- Highline
  • LCC
  • ACT Range
  • HCC- Highline
  • LCC
  • SAT Range
  • HCC- Highline
  • LCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HCC- Highline Open admission
  • LCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • HCC- Highline
  • LCC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HCC- Highline 13:1
  • LCC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HCC- Highline
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
    • Health Professions (27%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
    • Physical Sciences (3%)
  • LCC
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Business (26%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (6%)
    • Precision Production Trades (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HCC- Highline -
  • LCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HCC- Highline $39,300
  • LCC $34,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HCC- Highline 36%
  • LCC 32%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HCC- Highline $7,500
  • LCC $12,784
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HCC- Highline $77
  • LCC $132

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HCC- Highline 36%
  • LCC 32%
  • % Women
  • HCC- Highline 64%
  • LCC 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HCC- Highline Very High
  • LCC Low
  • HBCU
  • HCC- Highline No
  • LCC No
  • % White
  • HCC- Highline 33%
  • LCC 75%
  • % Asian
  • HCC- Highline 15%
  • LCC 2%
  • % Black
  • HCC- Highline 11%
  • LCC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • HCC- Highline 12%
  • LCC 10%
  • % Native American
  • HCC- Highline 1%
  • LCC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HCC- Highline 1%
  • LCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HCC- Highline 10%
  • LCC 6%
  • % International
  • HCC- Highline 8%
  • LCC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HCC- Highline 9%
  • LCC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HCC- Highline 98%
  • LCC 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HCC- Highline 2%
  • LCC 15%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • HCC- Highline No
  • LCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • HCC- Highline No
  • LCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • HCC- Highline No
  • LCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • HCC- Highline Yes
  • LCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • HCC- Highline No
  • LCC Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Highline College is larger than LCC based on total student enrollment (5,592 students vs. 2,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Highline College is located in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting); Lower Columbia College is in Longview, WA (Small City setting).
  • Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lower Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Highline College 13:1; Lower Columbia College 15:1.

HCC- Highline vs. LCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC- Highline or LCC? 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 Lower Columbia College than HCC- Highline ($9,950 vs. $11,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12% lower than at Lower Columbia College ($15,228 vs. $17,310).
  • Highline College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than LCC (about $146 more per year; $4,772.00 vs. $4,626.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at LCC than at Highline College (about $671 more per year; $6,003.00 vs. $5,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lower Columbia College than at Highline College (76% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Highline College students is 7% larger than aid received by Lower Columbia College students ($7,026 vs. $6,564).

HCC- Highline vs. LCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC- Highline or LCC? 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 LCC and HCC- Highline.

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

HCC- Highline vs. LCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC- Highline and LCC? 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 $5,100 more per year than LCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $5,284 lower median loan debt than LCC graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,784).
  • Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LCC graduates ($77 vs. $132).
  • More HCC- Highline graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LCC 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.