Highline vs Shoreline Community: Softball Program Comparison
Two JUCO programs in the NWAC. Highline runs $8,670 less per year out of state; Highline graduates 7 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Highline if…
- You are an out-of-state recruit and the number on the bill matters: Highline lists $8,670 less per year in tuition and housing than Shoreline Community.
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Highline graduates 7 percentage points more of its students than Shoreline Community.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Highline is $2,521 lower than at Shoreline Community.
Lean Shoreline Community if…
- You would be in-state: Shoreline Community is $235 cheaper per year on published in-state tuition than Highline.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Shoreline Community graduates earn about $4,140 more per year a decade after enrolling.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Highline | Shoreline Community |
|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition & fees | $4,623 | $4,388 — Shoreline Community leads on this measure: lower published in-state tuition |
| Out-of-state tuition & fees | $5,156 — Highline leads on this measure: lower published out-of-state tuition | $7,430 |
| Room & board | $13,026 — Highline leads on this measure: lower room & board | $19,422 |
| Est. in-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $17,649 — Highline leads on this measure: lower total in-state cost | $23,810 |
| Est. out-of-state year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $18,182 — Highline leads on this measure: lower total out-of-state cost | $26,852 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Highline | Shoreline Community |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 39% — Highline leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 32% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $47,869/yr | $52,009/yr — Shoreline Community leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out |
| Median debt at graduation | $9,500 — Highline leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $12,021 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 20% — Highline leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 23% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Highline | Shoreline Community |
|---|---|---|
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 5,126 | 4,460 |
| Where it is | Des Moines, WA | Shoreline, WA |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Highline | Shoreline Community |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Che Dawson | Crystelle Fischer |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Highline | Shoreline Community |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | Yes | Yes |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges), so the scholarship rules are identical: varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Highline
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Shoreline Community
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Highline vs Shoreline Community: common questions
- Is Highline or Shoreline Community cheaper?
- On published price, Highline is cheaper — about $18,182 a year out of state in tuition and housing, against $26,852 at Shoreline Community. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Highline or Shoreline Community?
- Highline, at 39% against 32% at Shoreline Community (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Highline and Shoreline Community offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at JUCO (NJCAA & community colleges): varies by njcaa division. Scholarship availability at junior colleges varies by NJCAA division — some can offer full athletic scholarships, some offer tuition-level aid, and NJCAA Division III offers no athletic aid.
- How do I contact the coaches at Highline and Shoreline Community?
- Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Highline and Shoreline Community accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
Track both programs, log every coach you contact, and see where you actually stand against each one's recruiting profile.
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