Tacoma Community College vs Highline College
Tacoma Community College and Highline College, both esteemed institutions in the Pacific Northwest, offer diverse educational opportunities to students seeking higher education. Tacoma Community College, nestled in the vibrant city of Tacoma, boasts an acceptance rate of 100%, welcoming students from all backgrounds to pursue their academic aspirations. Highline College, located in the scenic Des Moines area, offers a slightly more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 98%. While Tacoma Community College excels in programs like Liberal Arts and Humanities, Highline College shines in fields such as Business, Management, and Marketing. Both colleges cater to a diverse student body, with Tacoma Community College having a higher percentage of female students and Highline College having a slightly larger international student population. When it comes to graduation rates, Tacoma Community College holds a slight edge over Highline College, with a 28% completion rate compared to 26%. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison
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![]() Highline College |
![]() Tacoma Community College |
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Overview |
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Location | Des Moines, Washington | Tacoma, Washington |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | ||
![]() |
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:
$20,046
Out of state:
$25,508
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Average net price | $9,882 | $8,606 |
Tuition | $3,445 |
In state:
$4,486
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 |
37.0%
Average amount $5,638 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
2.0%
Average amount $5,614 |
11.0%
Average amount $5,782 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $7,202 |
0.0%
Average amount $14,105 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
4,951
Men 37.4% Women 62.6% |
5,359
Men 35.1% Women 64.9% |
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% | 4.8% |
International students | 3.7% | 2.4% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Midsize |
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 Alaska California Oregon Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 16:1 |
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% | 37.3% |
Dropout rate | 35.3% | 35.0% |
Transferred out | 21.3% | 21.2% |
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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Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment 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)
Legal Support Services (Associate's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate's Degrees)
Human Services, General (Associate's Degrees)
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