HCC- Highline vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Highline College is larger than Whatcom Community College based on total student enrollment (5,592 students vs. 3,674 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Highline College is located in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Whatcom Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Highline College 13:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

HCC- Highline vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC- Highline or Whatcom 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 Highline College than Whatcom Community College ($11,783 vs. $13,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 15.3% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($15,228 vs. $17,982).
• Whatcom 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 107% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Highline College (about $5,705 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $5,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highline College than at Whatcom Community College (66% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highline College students is 14.6% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($7,026 vs. $6,129).

HCC- Highline vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

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

HCC- Highline vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC- Highline and Whatcom 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 $2,000 more per year than Whatcom Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Whatcom Community College graduates ($7,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Whatcom Community College graduates ($77 vs. $98).
• More Whatcom Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC- Highline students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.