HCC- Highline vs. Whatcom Community College

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

Highline College
Whatcom Community College

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: HCC- Highline. Average net price is $11,783 vs $13,116 at Whatcom Community College.
  • Earnings 10 years out: HCC- Highline $39,300 vs Whatcom Community College $37,300 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Highline College Whatcom Community College
Acceptance rate
HCC- Highline-
Whatcom Community College-
SAT range (middle 50%)
HCC- Highline-
Whatcom Community College-
Average net price
HCC- Highline $1,333 less
HCC- Highline$11,783
Whatcom Community College$13,116
In-state tuition
HCC- Highline $343 less
HCC- Highline$4,772
Whatcom Community College$5,115
Out-of-state tuition
HCC- Highline $5,705 less
HCC- Highline$5,332
Whatcom Community College$11,037
Graduation rate
HCC- Highline-
Whatcom Community College-
Median earnings (10 years)
HCC- Highline +$2,000
HCC- Highline$39,300
Whatcom Community College$37,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at HCC- Highline and Whatcom Community College with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at HCC- Highline Check my chances at Whatcom Community College
  • Applied
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Whatcom Community College -
  • Admitted
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Whatcom Community College -
  • Acceptance rate
  • HCC- Highline Open
  • Whatcom Community College Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • HCC- Highline Open
  • Whatcom Community College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • HCC- Highline
  • Whatcom Community College
  • Typical ACT score
  • HCC- Highline
  • Whatcom Community College
  • Average high school GPA
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Whatcom Community College -
  • Typical high school grades
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Whatcom Community College -
  • Admissions standards
  • HCC- Highline Unavailable
  • Whatcom Community College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • HCC- Highline
  • Whatcom Community College
  • SAT range
  • HCC- Highline
  • Whatcom Community College
  • ACT range
  • HCC- Highline
  • Whatcom Community College
  • Submit test scores
  • HCC- Highline Open admission
  • Whatcom Community College Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • HCC- Highline
  • Whatcom Community College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • HCC- Highline $4,772
  • Whatcom Community College $5,115
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • HCC- Highline $5,332
  • Whatcom Community College $11,037
  • Room & board
  • HCC- Highline $15,228
  • Whatcom Community College $17,982
  • Average net price
  • HCC- Highline $11,783
  • Whatcom Community College $13,116
  • Average grant aid
  • HCC- Highline $7,026
  • Whatcom Community College $6,129
  • % receiving grant aid
  • HCC- Highline 66%
  • Whatcom Community College 52%
  • Graduation rate
  • HCC- Highline -
  • Whatcom Community College -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • HCC- Highline $39,300
  • Whatcom Community College $37,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • HCC- Highline 36%
  • Whatcom Community College 39%
  • Median student loan debt
  • HCC- Highline $7,500
  • Whatcom Community College $9,500
  • Median loan payment
  • HCC- Highline $77
  • Whatcom Community College $98
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • HCC- Highline 13:1
  • Whatcom Community College 11:1
  • Popular majors
  • HCC- Highline
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
    • Health Professions (27%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (6%)
    • Physical Sciences (3%)
  • Whatcom Community College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (76%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Business (3%)
    • Communications Technology (2%)
    • Education (2%)
  • Location
  • HCC- Highline Des Moines, WA
  • Whatcom Community College Bellingham, WA
  • Setting
  • HCC- Highline Large Suburban
  • Whatcom Community College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC- Highline 5,592
  • Whatcom Community College 3,674
  • Type
  • HCC- Highline Public 2 Year
  • Whatcom Community College Public 2 Year
  • National ranking
  • HCC- Highline
  • 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 tables 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.

Cost details

  • 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).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 107% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Highline College (about $5,705 more per year; $11,037 vs. $5,332).
  • 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).

Admissions details

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

Loans and repayment

  • 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Highline College
Whatcom Community College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges