HCC- Highline vs. Tacoma Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Tacoma Community College is larger than HCC- Highline based on total student enrollment (6,199 students vs. 5,592 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highline College is located in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting); Tacoma Community College is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tacoma Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highline College 13:1; Tacoma Community College 17:1.

HCC- Highline vs. Tacoma Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC- Highline or Tacoma 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 Tacoma Community College than HCC- Highline ($9,803 vs. $11,783).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12% lower than at Tacoma Community College ($15,228 vs. $17,310).
• Tacoma Community College is 15.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC- Highline (about $735 more per year; $5,507.00 vs. $4,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 118.4% higher at Tacoma Community College than at Highline College (about $6,314 more per year; $11,646.00 vs. $5,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highline College than at Tacoma Community College (66% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tacoma Community College students is 4% larger than aid received by Highline College students ($7,308 vs. $7,026).

HCC- Highline vs. Tacoma Community College Admissions comparison

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

HCC- Highline vs. Tacoma Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC- Highline and Tacoma 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 $300 more per year than Tacoma Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $5,268 lower median loan debt than Tacoma Community College graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,768).
• Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tacoma Community College graduates ($77 vs. $132).
• More HCC- Highline graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tacoma Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 34%)

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.