Public
Accredited · Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Des Moines, Washington
Highline College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$19,642Annual Cost
$47,869Grad Salary
17.1%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$10,878
Need-Based Aid
17.1% receive Pell
Highline College serves Washington's diverse South King County from its 80-acre campus in Des Moines, strategically located between Seattle and Tacoma. Established in 1961, the college has grown into a comprehensive institution serving over 10,000 students annually with particular strengths in healthcare, business, and STEM fields. The campus features the innovative Building 29 with advanced science labs, the Marine Science and Technology Center on Puget Sound, and the MaST Center aquarium that supports its renowned marine biology program.
Highline offers 75+ degree and certificate programs including exceptional nursing, cybersecurity, and aviation maintenance pathways that feed directly into the regional workforce. The college's 'Achieving the Dream' initiative focuses on equity and student success for its highly diverse population, with over 60% students of color and 120+ languages spoken. Highline's University Center partners with four-year institutions to offer bachelor's and master's degrees on campus. The college's Global Programs division includes study abroad opportunities and the unique 'AANAPISI' program serving Asian American and Pacific Islander students. Highline's commitment to sustainability is evident in its LEED-certified buildings and environmental science curriculum.
Highline College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Highline College is inclusive by design: 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Highline College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Highline College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Highline reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (April 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Highline
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Highline College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Highline College (Highline) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Highline — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Highline Without SAT or ACT?
Highline's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Highline
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Highline provides an open gateway to higher education. Success here is about using available resources well and planning your longer-term academic or career path.
Confirm your BAS program's specific prerequisite-completion threshold before applying
Highline's Bachelor of Applied Science programs require applicants to have completed an AAS/AAS-T or AA/AS transfer degree - except the Respiratory Care BAS, which admits students who've completed just 30 of its 45 prerequisite credits. Students should verify their specific program's threshold directly rather than assuming all seven BAS tracks share identical entry requirements, since Respiratory Care's earlier-entry window is a genuine exception.
Boeing and Amazon employees should route tuition through employer programs before filing for financial aid
Highline has direct, named tuition partnerships with both Boeing's Learning Together Program and Amazon's Career Choice program, covering tuition and eligible expenses for qualifying employees pursuing courses, certificates, or degrees at the college. Working students employed by either company should confirm eligibility and enrollment steps with their employer's program administrator first, since this funding operates outside the standard FAFSA/financial-aid pipeline.
Register for the correct quarter application window - Highline runs four separate cycles per year
Highline operates on a quarter system with its own distinct application deadlines (e.g., Fall 2026 applications close October 9, well after the quarter itself starts September 28), and missing one quarter's window means emailing Admissions to shift your start date rather than simply reapplying. Students should confirm which of the four quarterly deadlines applies to their intended start term rather than assuming a single annual deadline like semester-based schools.
Selective programs (BAS, Nursing AAS, Running Start) need a second, separate application beyond general admission
Highline's general admissions application does not automatically enroll a student into its Bachelor of Applied Science programs, the Registered Nursing AAS, or Running Start - each has its own additional application, deadline, and entrance requirements layered on top of general admission. Students interested in any of these three tracks should be told explicitly to plan for a second application step, not assume general acceptance covers program placement.
Expert Insight:
The most common misstep is treating Highline's open general admission as equivalent to admission into a specific selective program - students are frequently surprised that being "accepted to Highline" doesn't guarantee a seat in Nursing or a BAS program, each of which runs its own competitive or prerequisite-gated process with separate deadlines that can be easy to miss if a student assumes one application covers everything.
Highline Profile
Full Name
Highline College (Highline)
City
Des Moines
State
Washington
ZIP Code
98198-9800
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Is a Highline Degree Worth It?
Whether Highline is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $65,400, and graduates see a 3.7% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Highline Cost?
Listed tuition runs $19,642/year at Highline; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $10,878.
At Highline, 17.1% receive a Pell Grant and 1.8% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Highline on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Highline Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Highline graduates report a median income of $47,869, about 18% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Highline
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Highline Admissions
Highline College graduates earn a lower median salary of $47,869/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Highline College is relatively affordable, around $19,642/year.
17.1% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — Highline College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Highline College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before April 1, 2026 — that's Highline College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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