Highline College
Highline College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Highline College at a Glance
Highline College is a public community college in Des Moines, Washington. Highline was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County, Washington. The main campus covers 80 acres (320,000 m2). As of 2015, there were approximately 17,000 students and 350,000 alumni of the college.
1961
65 years old
$44M
$43.7 million (2016–17)
15,375
80 acres
Identity
Is Highline College Worth It?
Highline College offers moderate value at $9,879/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $47,869, which is 11% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 37% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $9,500 is manageable at just 20% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
How Highline College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #87 of 264 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #2 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #3 | CUNY York College | 100 | $4,456 | $56,945 |
| #4 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #5 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #6 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #87 | Highline College | 45 | $9,879 | $47,869 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Highline College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 28 in WA.
Best Programs at Highline College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Highline College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $9,879/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in WA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Des Moines, WA
- Student Body
- 3,838 students
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,879
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $47,869
- Median Student Debt
- $9,500