South Puget Sound Community College vs Highline College
South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) and Highline College stand out as two prominent community colleges in Washington, each offering unique educational opportunities. SPSCC boasts an acceptance rate of 100%, welcoming all students with open arms, while Highline College maintains a slightly more selective approach with an acceptance rate of 98%. Both institutions offer a diverse range of programs, with SPSCC excelling in fields like Business, Health Professions, and STEM, and Highline College shining in areas such as Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. SPSCC's student body comprises 49% female and 51% male students, while Highline College's student population is slightly more balanced, with 52% female and 48% male students. When it comes to graduation rates, SPSCC reports a 33% graduation rate within three years, while Highline College achieves a slightly higher rate of 35%. To help you make an informed decision, we
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![]() Highline College |
![]() South Puget Sound Community College |
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Overview |
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Location | Des Moines, Washington | Olympia, Washington |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 2 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 63.0% | |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | Open Admission | Open Admission |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | ||
Total number of admissions given out | ||
Admitted students who chose to enroll | ||
Yield rate | ||
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | Not required |
High school GPA | N/A | N/A |
Recommendation letters | N/A | N/A |
High school transcript | N/A | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$20,334
Out of state:
$20,803
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In state:
$20,896
Out of state:
$26,529
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Average net price | $9,882 | $9,399 |
Tuition | $3,445 |
In state:
$4,315
Out of state:
$9,948
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Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
35.0%
Average amount $5,583 |
49.0%
Average amount $5,586 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
2.0%
Average amount $5,614 |
5.0%
Average amount $4,946 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $7,202 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
4,951
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
4,215
Men 39.1% Women 60.9% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 2.7% | 2.6% |
International students | 3.7% | 1.2% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 160 | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Washington Hawaii Oregon Alaska Arkansas | Washington California Florida Hawaii Utah |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 35.8% | 43.7% |
Dropout rate | 35.3% | 34.0% |
Transferred out | 21.3% | 15.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
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Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate's Degrees)
Legal Support Services (Associate's Degrees)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
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