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Colleges in and near SeaTac

Highline College is 3.8 miles from SeaTac

No college sits inside SeaTac’s boundary, but Highline College’s campus in Des Moines, with 3,517 students on campus, is 3.8 miles from the center of town. About 7% of SeaTac’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington (6%).

Highline 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 SeaTac. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
16
95,045 students on campus
Nearest college
3.8 mi
Highline College
Residents in college
7%
About the same as WA (6%)
Nearest community college
3.8 mi
Highline College · $4,772 tuition
Nearest public university
3.8 mi
Highline College · $4,772 in-state
Median household income
$81K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from SeaTac

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

A community college 3.8 miles awayHighline College has 3,517 students on campus in Des Moines, 35% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Highline CollegeLiving in Washington, Highline College charges $4,772 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $5,332. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 7% 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 SeaTac

Eight private colleges within 14.8 miles, three public colleges within 14.6 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Washington-Seattle CampusBellevue CollegeSeattle UniversitySeaTac
University or collegeCommunity college
Highline CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,517 on campus · 3.8 mi · Des Moines$10knet price35%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $4,772 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pima Medical Institute-RentonUniversity or college · For-profit · 400 on campus · 4.4 mi · Renton$32knet price69%graduate$39kearningsEarnings are reported for all 13 campuses that file with it.Renton Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,398 on campus · 6.5 mi · Renton$8knet price46%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,308 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.South Seattle CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,519 on campus · 7.6 mi · Seattle$6knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $5,238 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Green River CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 4,707 on campus · 10.7 mi · Auburn$14knet price39%graduate$51kearningsSeattle UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,757 on campus · 11.5 mi · Seattle77%admitted$35knet price76%graduate$75kearningsBellevue CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 6,973 on campus · 11.9 mi · Bellevue$11knet price36%graduate$56kearningsSeattle Central CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,560 on campus · 12 mi · Seattle$9knet price32%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $5,184 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.The Seattle School of Theology & PsychologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 257 on campus · 12 mi · SeattleGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Antioch University-SeattleUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 800 on campus · 12.1 mi · Seattle$52kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Cornish College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · 12.2 mi · SeattleCity University of SeattleUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 501 on campus · 12.2 mi · Seattle · mostly online$69kearnings75% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.University of Washington-Seattle CampusUniversity or college · Public · 54,144 on campus · 14.6 mi · Seattle39%admitted$14knet price85%graduate$78kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Seattle Pacific UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,561 on campus · 14.6 mi · Seattle83%admitted$24knet price62%graduate$65kearningsNorthwest College of Art & DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 150 on campus · 14.8 mi · Tacoma66%admitted$16knet price58%graduate$31kearningsBates Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,299 on campus · 15 mi · Tacoma$6knet price43%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,027 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 SeaTac’s median household income ($81,104) falls.

South Seattle College7.6 mi · Seattle · sticker $15,385 · tuition $5,238$7,409a year
Highline College3.8 mi · Des Moines · sticker $18,812 · tuition $4,772$11,455a year
Seattle Central College12 mi · Seattle · sticker $17,889 · tuition $5,184$11,555a year
Bates Technical College15 mi · Tacoma · sticker $18,837 · tuition $6,027$12,978a year
Renton Technical College6.5 mi · Renton · sticker $17,585 · tuition $6,308$13,861a year
University of Washington-Seattle Campus14.6 mi · Seattle · sticker $32,446$14,328a year
Bellevue College11.9 mi · Bellevue · sticker $20,309$16,815a year
Green River College10.7 mi · Auburn · sticker $22,040$18,681a year
Northwest College of Art & Design14.8 mi · Tacoma · sticker $30,038$24,031a year
Seattle Pacific University14.6 mi · Seattle · sticker $56,826$27,976a year
Seattle University11.5 mi · Seattle · sticker $72,124$36,967a year
Pima Medical Institute-Renton4.4 mi · Renton · sticker $35,558—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 SeaTac: 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 →South Seattle CollegeGreen River CollegeSeattle UniversityBellevue CollegeSeattle Central CollegeUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus
University of Washington-Seattle Campus85% graduate$78k earnings*$15k typical debt
Bellevue College36% graduate$56k earnings$12k typical debt
Seattle University76% graduate$75k earnings$20k typical debt
Green River College39% graduate$51k earnings$12k typical debt
South Seattle College31% graduate$44k earnings
Seattle Central College32% graduate$43k earnings$12k typical debt
Highline College35% graduate$48k earnings$10k typical debt
Bates Technical College43% graduate$50k earnings
Seattle Pacific University62% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt
Renton Technical College46% graduate$50k earnings$8k typical debt
Pima Medical Institute-Renton69% graduate$39k earnings*$10k 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-Seattle Campus (3).

Questions about college near SeaTac

Is SeaTac a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 SeaTac residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Washington (6). The nearest campus, Highline College, is 3.8 miles away in Des Moines.

What colleges are near SeaTac?

16 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Washington-Seattle Campus (14.6 miles, 54,144 students on campus), Bellevue College (11.9 miles, 6,973) and Seattle University (11.5 miles, 6,757).

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

Highline College in Des Moines, 3.8 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.

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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 SeaTac. 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 →