Allegany College of Maryland vs. HCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland, MD with Howard Community College in Columbia, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard Community College is larger than Allegany College of Maryland based on total student enrollment (8,643 students vs. 2,762 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Allegany College of Maryland is located in Cumberland, MD (Rural Fringe setting); Howard Community College is in Columbia, MD (Large Suburban setting).
• Allegany College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Howard Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Allegany College of Maryland 12:1; Howard Community College 14:1.

Allegany College of Maryland vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allegany College of Maryland or HCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Allegany College of Maryland than HCC ($8,322 vs. $11,468).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allegany College of Maryland are 56.9% lower than at Howard Community College ($10,560 vs. $24,498).
• Allegany College of Maryland is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $2,274 more per year; $9,498.00 vs. $7,224.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.1% higher at Allegany College of Maryland than at Howard Community College (about $2,994 more per year; $12,618.00 vs. $9,624.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Allegany College of Maryland than at Howard Community College (91% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Allegany College of Maryland students is 40.8% larger than aid received by Howard Community College students ($7,061 vs. $5,016).

Allegany College of Maryland vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Allegany College of Maryland or HCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between HCC and Allegany College of Maryland.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Allegany College of Maryland - Open admission; HCC - Open admission.

Allegany College of Maryland vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allegany College of Maryland and HCC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Howard Community College earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Allegany College of Maryland graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,400 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard Community College graduates have a $5,750 lower median loan debt than Allegany College of Maryland graduates ($9,500 vs. $15,250).
• Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Allegany College of Maryland graduates ($98 vs. $157).
• More Allegany College of Maryland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 36%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.