No college sits inside Vashon’s boundary, but Highline College’s campus in Des Moines, with 3,517 students on campus, is 7.3 miles from the center of town. About 4% of Vashon’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Vashon. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
14
34,813 students on campus
Nearest college
7.3 mi
Highline College
Residents in college
4%
Below WA (6%)
Nearest community college
7.3 mi
Highline College · $4,772 tuition
Nearest public university
7.3 mi
Highline College · $4,772 in-state
Median household income
$121K
prices below start here
What stands out about college from Vashon
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
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 Over $110k, where Vashon’s median household income ($120,571) 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.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Vashon: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Green River College39% graduate$51k earnings$12k typical debt
South Seattle College31% graduate$44k earnings
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus63% graduate$78k earnings*$15k typical debt
Tacoma Community College32% graduate$47k earnings$13k 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: University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (3); Pima Medical Institute-Renton (13).
Questions about college near Vashon
Is Vashon a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Vashon residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Washington (6). The nearest campus, Highline College, is 7.3 miles away in Des Moines.
What colleges are near Vashon?
14 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Green River College (14.7 miles, 4,707 students on campus), South Seattle College (10.6 miles, 4,519) and the University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (11.5 miles, 4,497).
What is the closest community college to Vashon, and what does it cost?
Highline College in Des Moines, 7.3 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 Vashon. 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 →
Photo: Dicklyon · CC BY-SA 4.0