C+
Above Average
Score: 57/100

Highline College

4-Year Public
📍 Des Moines, Washington 98198
Outcomes
C+
55/100
Affordability
B
67/100
Resources
B
66/100
Experience
B+
75/100
Prestige
F
28/100

Quick Stats

5,126
Total Enrollment
39%
Graduation Rate
N/A
Retention Rate
15.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$13,467
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Highline College

54% of students live off-campus (not with family), creating consistent rental demand near campus. That's approximately 2,753 students who need housing.

Avg Home Value
$595,296
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,105
1-Year Change
+2.8%
For parents & investors

The Highline College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $595,296
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,105/mo — vs ~$1,047/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 98001 (3.0% cap, Auburn)

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🏆 Where Highline College Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥇
Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant
of 6 schools
🥇
Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) Program
of 1 schools
#4
Medical Reception/Receptionist
of 7 schools
#10
Medical/Clinical Assistant
of 100 schools
#11
Physical Sciences, General
of 30 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $3,633 $3,633
Room $9,426
Total Cost (On-Campus) $21,813 $22,346

Financial Aid

51%
Receive Any Aid
26%
Receive Pell Grants
3%
Take Out Loans
$13,467
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$9,875
$30,001 - $48,000$10,004
$48,001 - $75,000$14,012
$75,001 - $110,000$11,413
$110,001+$19,642

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 393 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 164 grads/yr Medical/Clinical Assistant 109 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 65 grads/yr Business/Commerce, General 54 grads/yr Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant 39 grads/yr Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance 34 grads/yr Physical Sciences, General 33 grads/yr Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) Program 27 grads/yr Design and Visual Communications, General 26 grads/yr Medical Reception/Receptionist 25 grads/yr Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping 22 grads/yr Hotel/Motel Administration/Management 21 grads/yr Legal Assistant/Paralegal 19 grads/yr Youth Services/Administration 16 grads/yr Mental Health Counseling/Counselor 14 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 13 grads/yr Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications 11 grads/yr Office Management and Supervision 9 grads/yr Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General 7 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Highline College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Education teachers, postsecondary
$72k/yr 74,900 jobs
Elementary school teachers, except special education
$62k/yr 1,422,700 jobs
Kindergarten teachers, except special education
$61k/yr 117,200 jobs
Preschool teachers, except special education
$37k/yr 555,100 jobs
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$106k/yr 289,600 jobs
Medical assistants
$44k/yr 811,000 jobs
Registered nurses
$94k/yr 3,391,000 jobs

Student Demographics

5,126
Total Students
62%
Women
46%
Traditional Age (18-24)
54%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 19%
Hispanic 19%
Black 17%
Asian 20%
Two or More 7%
Non-Resident 5%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 11%
Off-Campus (Renters) 54%
With Family 35%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~2,753 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 33%
Hybrid (Some Online) 36%
Fully Online 31%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 46%
25-64 (Adult) 32%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Highline College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Highline College?
Tuition at Highline College is $3,633 for in-state students and $3,633 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $13,467.
What is the graduation rate at Highline College?
The graduation rate at Highline College is 39%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Highline College a good school?
Highline College has a Repit College Score of 57/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Highline College?
Highline College has a total enrollment of 5,126 students.
Is there rental demand near Highline College?
Yes! Approximately 54% of students at Highline College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 2,753 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Des Moines area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Highline College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Highline College

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Edmonds College
Lynnwood, WA · 6,028 students
C+
Wenatchee Valley College
Wenatchee, WA · 2,819 students
C+
Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA · 11,472 students
C+
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA · 10,741 students
C+
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · 8,796 students
C+
Columbia Basin College
Pasco, WA · 6,729 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: September 2026 | Methodology