HCC- Highline vs. Walla Walla Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Highline College is larger than Walla Walla Community College based on total student enrollment (5,592 students vs. 2,967 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highline College is located in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting); Walla Walla Community College is in Walla Walla, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Walla Walla Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highline College 13:1; Walla Walla Community College 18:1.

HCC- Highline vs. Walla Walla Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC- Highline or Walla Walla 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 Walla Walla Community College than HCC- Highline ($10,612 vs. $11,783).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12% lower than at Walla Walla Community College ($15,228 vs. $17,310).
• Walla Walla Community College is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC- Highline (about $507 more per year; $5,279.00 vs. $4,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.7% higher at Walla Walla Community College than at Highline College (about $1,368 more per year; $6,700.00 vs. $5,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Walla Walla Community College than at Highline College (80% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Walla Walla Community College students is 8% larger than aid received by Highline College students ($7,586 vs. $7,026).

HCC- Highline vs. Walla Walla Community College Admissions comparison

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

HCC- Highline vs. Walla Walla Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC- Highline and Walla Walla 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 $2,900 more per year than Walla Walla Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $4,674 lower median loan debt than Walla Walla Community College graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,174).
• Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Walla Walla Community College graduates ($77 vs. $125).
• More Walla Walla Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC- Highline students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.