HCC- Highline vs. Shoreline Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Highline College is larger than Shoreline Community College based on total student enrollment (5,592 students vs. 4,477 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

HCC- Highline vs. Shoreline Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC- Highline or Shoreline Community 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 Shoreline Community College than HCC- Highline ($10,535 vs. $11,783).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12% lower than at Shoreline Community College ($15,228 vs. $17,310).
• Shoreline Community College is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC- Highline (about $343 more per year; $5,115.00 vs. $4,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.3% higher at Shoreline Community College than at Highline College (about $2,573 more per year; $7,905.00 vs. $5,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highline College than at Shoreline Community College (66% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highline College students is 17.5% larger than aid received by Shoreline Community College students ($7,026 vs. $5,981).

HCC- Highline vs. Shoreline Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC- Highline or Shoreline Community 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 Shoreline Community 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; Shoreline Community College - Open admission.

HCC- Highline vs. Shoreline Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC- Highline and Shoreline Community 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 Shoreline Community College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than HCC- Highline graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $39,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Shoreline Community College graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shoreline Community College graduates ($77 vs. $124).
• More Shoreline Community 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.