HCC- Highline vs. Skagit Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Highline College in Des Moines, WA with Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Highline College is larger than Skagit Valley College based on total student enrollment (5,592 students vs. 4,028 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highline College is located in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting); Skagit Valley College is in Mount Vernon, WA (Small City setting).
• Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Skagit Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highline College 13:1; Skagit Valley College 16:1.

HCC- Highline vs. Skagit Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC- Highline or Skagit Valley 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 Skagit Valley College than HCC- Highline ($8,264 vs. $11,783).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12.5% lower than at Skagit Valley College ($15,228 vs. $17,400).
• Skagit Valley College is 13.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC- Highline (about $628 more per year; $5,400.00 vs. $4,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.7% higher at Skagit Valley College than at Highline College (about $2,168 more per year; $7,500.00 vs. $5,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highline College than at Skagit Valley College (66% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highline College students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Skagit Valley College students ($7,026 vs. $6,632).

HCC- Highline vs. Skagit Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC- Highline or Skagit Valley 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 Skagit Valley 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; Skagit Valley College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Skagit Valley College Sep 7, 2026.

HCC- Highline vs. Skagit Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC- Highline and Skagit Valley 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 Highline College earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than Skagit Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Skagit Valley College graduates ($7,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Skagit Valley College graduates ($77 vs. $108).
• More Skagit Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC- Highline students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.