Des Moines is home to Highline College
Highline College (3,517 students on campus) is inside the city. About 5% of Des Moines’ residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington (6%).
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 Des Moines. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college in Des Moines
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Des Moines
Four private colleges within 12 miles, two public colleges within 11.5 miles, and five community colleges.
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 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.
Starts at $75–110k, where Des Moines’ median household income ($92,483) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Des Moines: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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).
What students study in Des Moines
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Highline College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
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 Des Moines
Is Des Moines a college town?
No. About 5 of every 100 Des Moines residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Washington (6). The largest campus in the city, Highline College, has 3,517 students on campus.
What colleges are in Des Moines?
Highline College is inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Des Moines, and what does it cost?
Highline College in Des Moines, 0.7 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 Highline College cost if we live in Washington?
Tuition and fees are $4,772 a year in-state and $5,332 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,984 (under $30,000 income) to $12,378 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Des Moines. 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 →