HCC- Highline vs. Tacoma Community College

Highline College and Tacoma Community College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Highline College
Tacoma Community College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: Tacoma Community College. Average net price is $9,803 vs $11,783 at HCC- Highline.
  • Earnings 10 years out: HCC- Highline $39,300 vs Tacoma Community College $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

Highline College Tacoma Community College
Acceptance rate
HCC- Highline-
Tacoma Community College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
HCC- Highline-
Tacoma Community College-
Average net price
Tacoma Community College $1,980 less
HCC- Highline$11,783
Tacoma Community College$9,803
In-state tuition
HCC- Highline $735 less
HCC- Highline$4,772
Tacoma Community College$5,507
Out-of-state tuition
HCC- Highline $6,314 less
HCC- Highline$5,332
Tacoma Community College$11,646
Graduation rate
HCC- Highline-
Tacoma Community College-
Median earnings (10 years)
HCC- Highline +$300
HCC- Highline$39,300
Tacoma Community College$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

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Check my chances at HCC- Highline Check my chances at Tacoma Community College
  • Applied
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Tacoma Community College -
  • Admitted
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Tacoma Community College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • HCC- Highline Open
  • Tacoma Community College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • HCC- Highline Open
  • Tacoma Community College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • HCC- Highline
  • Tacoma Community College
  • Typical ACT score
  • HCC- Highline
  • Tacoma Community College
  • Average high school GPA
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Tacoma Community College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Tacoma Community College -
  • Admissions standards
  • HCC- Highline Unavailable
  • Tacoma Community College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • HCC- Highline
  • Tacoma Community College
  • SAT range
  • HCC- Highline
  • Tacoma Community College
  • ACT range
  • HCC- Highline
  • Tacoma Community College
  • Submit test scores
  • HCC- Highline Open admission
  • Tacoma Community College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • HCC- Highline
  • Tacoma Community College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • HCC- Highline $4,772
  • Tacoma Community College $5,507
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • HCC- Highline $5,332
  • Tacoma Community College $11,646
  • Room & board
  • HCC- Highline $15,228
  • Tacoma Community College $17,310
  • Average net price
  • HCC- Highline $11,783
  • Tacoma Community College $9,803
  • Average grant aid
  • HCC- Highline $7,026
  • Tacoma Community College $7,308
  • % receiving grant aid
  • HCC- Highline 66%
  • Tacoma Community College 55%
  • Graduation rate
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Tacoma Community College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • HCC- Highline $39,300
  • Tacoma Community College $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • HCC- Highline 36%
  • Tacoma Community College 34%
  • Median student loan debt
  • HCC- Highline $7,500
  • Tacoma Community College $12,768
  • Median loan payment
  • HCC- Highline $77
  • Tacoma Community College $132
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • HCC- Highline 13:1
  • Tacoma Community College 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • HCC- Highline
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
    • Health Professions (27%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
    • Physical Sciences (3%)
  • Tacoma Community College
    • Health Professions (31%)
    • Business (29%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
    • Education (2%)
  • Location
  • HCC- Highline Des Moines, WA
  • Tacoma Community College Tacoma, WA
  • Setting
  • HCC- Highline Large Suburban
  • Tacoma Community College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC- Highline 5,592
  • Tacoma Community College 6,199
  • Type
  • HCC- Highline Public 2 Year
  • Tacoma Community College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • HCC- Highline
  • Tacoma Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Tacoma Community College is larger than HCC- Highline based on total student enrollment (6,199 students vs. 5,592 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Highline College is located in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting); Tacoma Community College is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
  • Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tacoma Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Highline College 13:1; Tacoma Community College 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12% lower than at Tacoma Community College ($15,228 vs. $17,310).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 118.4% higher at Tacoma Community College than at Highline College (about $6,314 more per year; $11,646 vs. $5,332).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Highline College than at Tacoma Community College (66% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tacoma Community College students is 4% larger than aid received by Highline College students ($7,308 vs. $7,026).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both HCC- Highline and Tacoma Community College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Highline College graduates have a $5,268 lower median loan debt than Tacoma Community College graduates ($7,500 vs. $12,768).
  • Among borrowers, HCC- Highline graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tacoma Community College graduates ($77 vs. $132).
  • More HCC- Highline graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tacoma Community College students, three years after graduation (36% vs. 34%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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