
Shoreline Community College is a public college in Shoreline, Washington, founded in 1964 to provide local access to postsecondary education. It remains part of Washington's community and technical college system, serving students pursuing transfer degrees, career credentials and continuing education.
Its range of programs reflects those different purposes. A student preparing for a four-year university may take a different course of study from someone seeking a technical certificate or a new workplace skill. That distinction matters when comparing Shoreline with colleges focused primarily on bachelor's degrees.
Shoreline Community College offers university-transfer study alongside professional and technical programs. Its academic offerings include associate degrees and certificates in areas such as business, health care, science, technology, the arts and skilled trades.
Examples include nursing, automotive technology, biotechnology and music technology, as well as coursework intended to transfer toward a bachelor's degree. Requirements vary substantially: a transfer degree is designed around general education and a destination university's prerequisites, while a career program may follow a prescribed sequence and have separate admission or clinical requirements.
Prospective students should use Shoreline's current catalog to check the credential attached to a particular program, its course sequence and whether it has a separate application. A program's presence in the catalog does not mean every required course starts every quarter.
Shoreline Community College's main campus is at 16101 Greenwood Avenue North in Shoreline, Washington, north of Seattle. Its suburban location gives students access to the Seattle-area job market and regional services while making transportation planning an important part of enrollment.
Students can reach the area by car or regional transit, though the convenience of a particular trip depends on its route and schedule. Parking is available to students, including first-year students, subject to campus rules. Commuters should account for travel time when choosing courses, especially programs with early, late or off-campus requirements. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the region's principal airport for students traveling longer distances.
Shoreline Community College describes its educational purpose in terms of access, learning, student achievement and community engagement. Its mission encompasses both academic transfer and workforce education rather than a single route through college.
For applicants, the practical implication is that students may arrive with different goals: earning a credential, preparing to transfer, improving foundational skills or updating skills for work. Mission statements express institutional priorities; they do not, by themselves, establish how well every program meets an individual student's needs.
Name of the institution
Shoreline Community CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, not primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
Two-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
QuartersFoundation year
1964Shoreline Community College is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.