Career Training Path › Washington › Highline College
Highline College
Des Moines, Washington · Public college · Training programs available:
Address: 2400 S 240th St, Des Moines, WA 98198 · Phone: (206) 878-3710 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Highline College is a public trade school in Des Moines, Washington offering medical assistant and culinary programs, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, graduates of Highline College carry a median debt of $9,500 and earn a median of $47,869 ten years after entry; completion rate comparison to the state average of 66.1% is not reported.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Highline College; the school does participate in federal financial aid (Title IV), and about 19.1% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $46,540 | $59,290 | $63,590 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $49,920 | $76,010 | $81,540 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Washington (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 43 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 31 | $43,154 | $40,438 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 28 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 15 | $43,154 | $40,438 | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Highline College is a public trade and career-training campus in Des Moines, Washington. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, with its nursing offerings recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, and it participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students may use FAFSA-based aid to help pay for school. Its trade programs are concentrated in medical assistant training, with 117 completers, and a smaller culinary and pastry program with 1 completer, among five total program families offered.
Federal data reports a median graduate debt of $9,500 and median earnings of $47,869 ten years after entry for students at this campus. The completion rate for trade programs specifically and how it compares to the state average of 66.1% is not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 19.1% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income students enrolled.
With 118 trade completers out of an undergraduate enrollment of 3,838, and its heavy emphasis on medical assistant training, this campus may suit students seeking a focused, career-oriented credential rather than a broad academic path; whether programs are short-term certificates or associate-length is not detailed here. Prospective students, including adult career-changers, should verify current accreditation status, program length, and cost directly with the school and cross-check outcomes using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Highline College offers five program families, with the largest concentrations in medical assistant programs (117 completers) and a smaller culinary and pastry program (1 completer).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Highline College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, with its nursing-related programs also recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, Highline College participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can apply for FAFSA-based aid, and about 19.1% of students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The specific completion rate for this campus and its comparison to the state average of 66.1% is not reported for this campus in federal data. Check the College Scorecard link for updates.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500, according to federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $47,869, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly at (206) 878-3710 or visit its website for current tuition.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Highline College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition rates for state residents compared to private for-profit trade schools, though specific costs here are not reported.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and review federal outcome data using the College Scorecard link provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data shows a strong concentration in medical assistant training with a sizable completer count, but specific fit for career changers, such as program flexibility or schedule, is not reported in federal data; contact the school to discuss options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements after completing a program are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school for details specific to the medical assistant or culinary programs.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Highline College at (206) 878-3710 or visit its website at https://www.highline.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby trade schools is not reported in this listing; use the College Scorecard link to compare outcomes across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in Washington
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See all trade and career schools in Washington or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.