Highline College has announced a new agreement with Central Washington University (CWU) that opens doors for graduates of Highline’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Management (BAS BM) program to pursue advanced degrees in business and accounting. The memorandum of understanding (MOU), finalized in December 2025, establishes a streamlined pathway into CWU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) programs.

“Highline College is proud to collaborate with Central Washington University to create a seamless pathway into graduate options for Business and Professional Accountancy,” Dr. Tanya Powers, associate dean for workforce pathways at Highline College said. “Highline College and CWU have a long tradition of collaborating in the business pathway and are excited to have our students have access to quality graduate programs.”

Under the agreement, students who have successfully completed the BAS BM program at Highline College, or are in their last two quarters of the program, are eligible to apply for admission to CWU’s MBA or MPA programs. Graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher will benefit from significant advantages, including:

  • No leveling courses required prior to starting CWU’s MBA or MPA program.
  • Streamlined application process for qualified students.
  • Application fee waived or reimbursed for BAS BM students who start the application process two quarters before graduation and up to six months after graduation.

Students entering the MPA program will need to complete five accounting courses to ensure a seamless transition into graduate-level study.

“Our partnership with Highline College has always focused on removing barriers for students,” Dr. Kurt D. Kirstein, associate vice president for academic affairs at Central Washington University said. “This pathway builds on that work by creating a direct, efficient transition from Highline’s BAS BM degree into graduate study at CWU. We value our ongoing collaboration and look forward to welcoming Highline graduates into our MBA and MPA programs.”

Students who are interested in these master’s degree programs should contact Business faculty member Mary Kajoka.

Learn More at Feb. 3 Info Session

On Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m., CWU will host a Zoom info session to share more details and answer questions about their Master’s in Business Administration and Master’s of Professional Accountancy programs. No registration is requires. Follow this Zoom link to participate.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HIGHLINE's bachelor's degree in business management