Shoreline College
Shoreline College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Shoreline College at a Glance
Shoreline Community College, officially Shoreline College, is a public community college in Shoreline, Washington. It is located in a residential area east of Shoreview Park. The college contains over 80 acres and continuously serves 12,000 full- and part-time students. It opened in 1964 and offers Associate's degree and certificate programs as well as one Bachelor's degree program.
1964
62 years old
13,795
150
83 acres
Identity
Is Shoreline College Worth It?
Shoreline College offers moderate value at $8,585/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $52,009, which is 3% 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 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 29% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
How Shoreline College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #92 of 219 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 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
| #92 | Shoreline College | 43 | $8,585 | $52,009 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Shoreline College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 25 in WA.
Best Programs at Shoreline College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Shoreline 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 $8,585/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
- Shoreline, WA
- Student Body
- 3,046 students
- Graduation Rate
- 29%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $8,585
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $52,009
- Median Student Debt
- $12,021