HCC- Highline vs. Renton Technical College

Comparable Facts

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

Highline College is larger than Renton Technical College based on total student enrollment (5,592 students vs. 2,824 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highline College is located in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting); Renton Technical College is in Renton, WA (Small City setting).
• Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Renton Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highline College 13:1; Renton Technical College 19:1.

HCC- Highline vs. Renton Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC- Highline or Renton Technical College? 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 Renton Technical College than HCC- Highline ($9,656 vs. $11,783).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12% lower than at Renton Technical College ($15,228 vs. $17,310).
• Renton Technical College is 32.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC- Highline (about $1,536 more per year; $6,308.00 vs. $4,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.2% higher at Renton Technical College than at Highline College (about $2,037 more per year; $7,369.00 vs. $5,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Renton Technical College than at Highline College (69% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Renton Technical College students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Highline College students ($7,560 vs. $7,026).

HCC- Highline vs. Renton Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC- Highline or Renton Technical College? 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 Renton Technical College 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; Renton Technical College - Open admission.

HCC- Highline vs. Renton Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC- Highline and Renton Technical College? 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 Renton Technical College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than HCC- Highline graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $39,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $1,080 lower median loan debt than Renton Technical College graduates ($7,500 vs. $8,580).
• Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Renton Technical College graduates ($77 vs. $88).
• More Renton Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC- Highline students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 36%)

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.