Facts and Information
About Us
Highline College is nationally and internationally recognized as a premier community college, with a reputation earned through the development of an institutional culture that values innovation, globalization of curriculum and community participation. Highline is one of 34 community and technical colleges in Washington state.
Location
Highline’s main campus is located on an 80-acre site in Des Moines, Washington. Classes are also offered at The Hub: Federal Way Higher Education Center, the Marine Science and Technology (MaST) Center at Redondo Beach and additional locations in the community.
Mission Statement
As a South King County college striving for social justice, Highline College partners with global students as they envision, plan and achieve their educational and professional goals.
Accreditation
Highline is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.Accreditation Information
Governance
Highline is led by President John R. Mosby, Ph.D., and governed by a five-member Board of Trustees: Travis Exstrom, Jesse Johnson, Sharmila Swenson, Joe Bowman and a currently vacant seat. Faculty members are actively involved in campus governance.About the President
Organizational Chart |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Trustees | ||||
| President John R. Mosby | ||||
| Vice President for Administration Michael Pham |
Vice President for Academic Affairs Emily Lardner |
Interim Vice President for Student Services Jamilyn Penn |
Vice President for Institutional Advancement Josh Gerstman |
Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Transformation Maribel Jimenez |
Highline’s Funding Sources
$75.5 Million
For the 2022-23 academic year, Highline received $75.5 million in funding.
State Support
Student Tuition and
Fees; Other
| Quarterly Tuition (2023-24 academic year) | Cost |
|---|---|
| Lower Division Courses: | |
| Resident (full time/15 credits) | $1,541 |
| Nonresident (full time/15 credits) | $3,524 |
| Upper Division Courses: | |
| Resident (full time/15 credits) | $2,463 |
| Nonresident (full time/15 credits) | $6,813 |
Economic Impact of Highline College
Having a college in the community is not only a boon for nearby students, but also for those who have never set foot on campus. Why? Highline contributes to the economic vibrancy of the area. For every $1 invested at Highline during 2014–15, society gained $9.80 in added taxes and public sector savings, according to a study by Economic Modeling Specialists International (“Analysis of the Return on Investment and Economic Impact of Education,” Dec. 2016). Learn more and read the full study at “Study Shows Highline Added $631.5 Million to Economy.”
Economic Development
Highline contributes to the economic development of South King County by providing no-cost business training and one-to-one technical assistance for new and existing businesses. Such assistance helps local businesses achieve sustainability and self-efficiency. In 2022, Highline provided 1,219 hours of service to more than 241 clients and helped launch 11 new businesses, 637 jobs supported, and generated $6.7 million in loans, grants and investments. Businesses served report $7.5 million increase in revenue. Highline’s economic development initiatives include the Small Business Development Center and StartZone.
Economic Benefits of International Students
The organization NAFSA: Association of International Educators estimated that international students and their dependents contributed approximately $917.3 million to Washington state’s economy for the 2017-18 academic year (the most recent year for which figures are available). This translated into 592 direct and indirect jobs in the 9th Congressional District. Highline’s international students contributed approximately $17.47 million to the local economy that year through tuition costs and living expenses.
$917.3 million
592 direct and indirect Jobs
$17.47 million
Special Initiatives, Grants and More
Special Initiative, Grant or Program |
Additional Information |
|---|---|
| Achieve Program (also see $1.79M TPSID Grant) | Achieve information sheet |
| Center of Excellence for Global Trade and Supply Chain Management | |
| College Spark Grant | |
| Community College Initiative (CCI) | |
| Cybersecurity Program | Cybersecurity information sheet |
| Highline Promise | |
| MESA Program: Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement | |
| Minority Male Community College Collaborative (M2C3) | |
| NSF Geoscience Grants (also see $1.34M NSF Grant) | |
| StartZone | StartZone information sheet |
| Title III: Strengthening Institutions Program | |
| TRiO Student Support Services (also see $1.1M TRiO Grant) | TRiO information sheet |
| Umoja Black Scholars Program | Umoja information sheet |
| Welcome Back Center |
The Area We Serve
Highline College is one of 34 community and technical colleges in Washington state and serves the people of King County.
Employment
As of fall 2023, approximately 724 people work at Highline, serving students at multiple locations throughout King County.
Degrees and Programs
Highline offers comprehensive community college programs as well as new bachelor’s degrees in seven high-demand programs: Cybersecurity and Forensics, Global Trade and Logistics, Integrated Design, Respiratory Care, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Youth Development.
Highline offers more than 100 degrees and certificates within eight pathways. Associate degrees include courses that transfer to four-year colleges or universities while applied associate degrees and/or certificates in professional-technical education programs are designed to help students succeed in today’s marketplace. Students also come to Highline for pre-college, basic education and short-term training programs as well as continuing education.
Foundation
Established in 1972, the Highline College Foundation is a nonprofit corporation governed
by a volunteer Board of Directors. As of June 30, 2023, the Foundation’s investments
exceeded $6 million. The Foundation supports scholarships, emergency assistance to
students, faculty professional development and technology. Under the leadership of
its president Kevin Morin, and its Board of Directors, the Highline College Foundation
is actively expanding its capacity to raise external funds. For the year ending June
30, 2023, the Foundation awarded more than $703,000 in scholarship and emergency funding.
History
Highline was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County. It serves
13,000 students and has over 350,000 alumni. The campus was built in 1964 with additional
buildings added in following years to meet student and technology needs.
Learn More About Highline’s History
