HCC- Highline vs. Spokane Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Spokane Community College is larger than HCC- Highline based on total student enrollment (6,813 students vs. 5,592 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highline College is located in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting); Spokane Community College is in Spokane, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Spokane Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highline College 13:1; Spokane Community College 14:1.

HCC- Highline vs. Spokane Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC- Highline or Spokane 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 Spokane Community College than HCC- Highline ($6,132 vs. $11,783).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12% lower than at Spokane Community College ($15,228 vs. $17,310).
• Spokane Community College is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC- Highline (about $689 more per year; $5,461.00 vs. $4,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24% higher at Spokane Community College than at Highline College (about $1,280 more per year; $6,612.00 vs. $5,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highline College than at Spokane Community College (66% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Spokane Community College students is 9% larger than aid received by Highline College students ($7,655 vs. $7,026).

HCC- Highline vs. Spokane Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC- Highline or Spokane 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 Spokane 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; Spokane Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Spokane Community College Aug 30, 2027.

HCC- Highline vs. Spokane Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC- Highline and Spokane 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 Highline College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Spokane Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $8,783 lower median loan debt than Spokane Community College graduates ($7,500 vs. $16,283).
• Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $91 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spokane Community College graduates ($77 vs. $168).
• More HCC- Highline graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spokane Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 35%)

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.