Washington's first King County community college, serving 15,000+ students with 100+ degree and certificate programs.
Highline College offers over 100 degree and certificate programs organized into eight degree pathways: Art, Design & Communication; Business, Hospitality & Tourism; Education, Human Services & Law; Health, Wellness & Fitness; Humanities & Social Sciences; STEM; ELCAP (pre-college); and Exploratory. Since fall 2014, the college has offered four Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degrees in high-demand fields. Students can pursue associate degrees for transfer to four-year universities or professional-technical certificates for direct career entry. The college also operates the Marine Science and Technology (MaST) Center at Redondo Beach and offers classes at satellite locations in Burien and White Center.
The main campus spans 80 acres in Des Moines with modern facilities including academic success centers, computer labs, a library, counseling center, and wellness center. Student housing is available on campus. The college hosts 100+ clubs and organizations, a student government (CLS), and the student newspaper (The Thunderword). Highline competes in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) as the Thunderbirds, fielding men's and women's teams in basketball, soccer, and golf, plus women's teams in softball, tennis, and volleyball. Central Washington University operates a campus facility on Highline's grounds, allowing students to pursue bachelor's and master's degrees concurrently.
Highline accepts new students, returning students, transfer students, international students, Running Start participants, military/veteran students, and undocumented students. The college operates on a quarter system (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring). Priority registration opens in May for designated groups; new student registration typically begins mid-May. Application is free and online. The college emphasizes entry advising and orientation to support student success from enrollment through graduation.
Highline has graduated over 350,000 alumni since 1961. Notable alumni include professional athletes (Brian Scalabrine, Brandon Brown, Jens Pulver), Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, actor Alexis Denisof, and true crime author Ann Rule. The college partners with employers including Amazon (Career Choice program) and workforce education services. The Highline College Foundation, established in 1972, raises funds for scholarships and grants supporting student and faculty success.