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Auburn station plaza from garagePhoto: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Auburn

Auburn is home to Green River College

Green River College (4,707 students on campus) is inside the city. About 6% of Auburn’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington (6%).

Green River College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Auburn. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
21,090 students on campus
Nearest college
1.7 mi
Green River College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as WA (6%)
Nearest community college
7.2 mi
Highline College · $4,772 tuition
Nearest public university
1.7 mi
Green River College · $4,711 in-state
Median household income
$98K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Auburn

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college in AuburnGreen River College has 4,707 students on campus in Auburn, 39% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Green River CollegeLiving in Washington, Green River College charges $4,711 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $5,263. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 7.2 miles awayHighline College in Des Moines: tuition and fees $4,772 a year for Washington residents.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Washington (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Auburn

Four private colleges within 14.5 miles, two public colleges within 11.5 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miGreen River CollegeUniversity of Washington-Tacoma CampusHighline CollegeAuburn
University or collegeCommunity college
Green River CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 4,707 on campus · In Auburn$14knet price39%graduate$51kearningsHighline CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,517 on campus · 7.2 mi · Des Moines$10knet price35%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $4,772 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Northwest College of Art & DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 150 on campus · 11.3 mi · Tacoma66%admitted$16knet price58%graduate$31kearningsPima Medical Institute-RentonUniversity or college · For-profit · 400 on campus · 11.4 mi · Renton$32knet price69%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.University of Washington-Tacoma CampusUniversity or college · Public · 4,497 on campus · 11.5 mi · Tacoma83%admitted$10knet price63%graduate$78kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Bates Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,299 on campus · 11.7 mi · Tacoma$6knet price43%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,027 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Renton Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,398 on campus · 12.9 mi · Renton$8knet price46%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,308 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Puget SoundUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,914 on campus · 12.9 mi · Tacoma72%admitted$38knet price68%graduate$70kearningsFaith International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 208 on campus · 14.5 mi · Tacoma$23knet price25%graduate$51kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Auburn’s median household income ($97,884) falls.

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus11.5 mi · Tacoma · sticker $25,346$11,449a year
Highline College7.2 mi · Des Moines · sticker $18,812 · tuition $4,772$11,455a year
Bates Technical College11.7 mi · Tacoma · sticker $18,837 · tuition $6,027$12,978a year
Renton Technical College12.9 mi · Renton · sticker $17,585 · tuition $6,308$13,861a year
Green River CollegeIn Auburn · sticker $22,040$18,681a year
Northwest College of Art & Design11.3 mi · Tacoma · sticker $30,038$24,031a year
University of Puget Sound12.9 mi · Tacoma · sticker $78,378$34,870a year
Pima Medical Institute-Renton11.4 mi · Renton · sticker $35,558—a year
Faith International University14.5 mi · Tacoma · sticker $31,368—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Auburn: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Green River CollegeHighline CollegeUniversity of Washington-Tacoma CampusBates Technical CollegeRenton Technical CollegeUniversity of Puget Sound
Green River College39% graduate$51k earnings$12k typical debt
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus63% graduate$78k earnings*$15k typical debt
Highline College35% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Bates Technical College43% graduate$50k earnings
Renton Technical College46% graduate$50k earnings$8k typical debt
University of Puget Sound68% graduate$70k earnings$25k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-Renton69% graduate$39k earnings*$10k typical debt
Faith International University25% graduate$51k earnings$18k typical debt
Northwest College of Art & Design58% graduate$31k earnings$31k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pima Medical Institute-Renton (13); University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (3).

Majors

What students study in Auburn

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Green River College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 33%Health professions 18%Computer science 14%Business 13%Transportation 4%Public safety 3%Everything else 14%

Biggest programs

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management54 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Computer Programming35 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations23 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Auburn

Is Auburn a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Auburn residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Washington (6). The largest campus in the city, Green River College, has 4,707 students on campus.

What colleges are in Auburn?

Green River College is inside the city. Highline College is 7.2 miles away in Des Moines.

What is the closest community college to Auburn, and what does it cost?

Highline College in Des Moines, 7.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,772 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $9,879, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Green River College cost if we live in Washington?

Tuition and fees are $4,711 a year in-state and $5,263 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,415 (under $30,000 income) to $21,533 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Auburn. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →