Business/Commerce at Highline College

The estimated $11,500 debt load positions this program below the national benchmark of $13,437 for business associate degrees, though the earnings picture requires caution. Based on comparable programs nationally, first-year graduates typically earn around $36,591—several thousand dollars below what similar programs produce across Washington state, where the median hits $40,588. Nearby community colleges like Tacoma and Clark report actual outcomes above $40,000, suggesting Highline's estimated figures may fall short of what's achievable for business graduates in the Seattle metro area.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 looks manageable on paper, but remember these are projections from peer programs, not Highline's actual graduate outcomes. For a two-year business degree, you'd hope to see your child earning closer to what Washington's market typically delivers. The relatively low Pell grant percentage (17%) suggests this school serves fewer low-income students than many community colleges, though that doesn't explain the earnings gap with nearby institutions.

Focus on what Highline can tell you directly: their job placement rates, employer partnerships, and where recent graduates actually landed. The modest estimated debt is a positive, but if local employers consistently hire from Tacoma or Clark instead, that $4,000 earnings difference compounds quickly. Ask the admissions office why their data is suppressed—small cohorts might signal limited program capacity or newer offerings that haven't established strong industry connections yet.