AACC vs. HCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, MD with Howard Community College in Columbia, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Anne Arundel Community College is larger than HCC based on total student enrollment (11,481 students vs. 8,643 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Anne Arundel Community College is located in Arnold, MD (Large Suburban setting); Howard Community College is in Columbia, MD (Large Suburban setting).
• Anne Arundel Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Howard Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Anne Arundel Community College 17:1; Howard Community College 14:1.

AACC vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AACC 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 Howard Community College than AACC ($11,468 vs. $14,961).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anne Arundel Community College are 59.1% lower than at Howard Community College ($10,030 vs. $24,498).
• Anne Arundel Community College is 15.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $1,130 more per year; $8,354.00 vs. $7,224.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at AACC than at Howard Community College (about $1,898 more per year; $11,522.00 vs. $9,624.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard Community College than at Anne Arundel Community College (58% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Anne Arundel Community College students is 1.9% larger than aid received by Howard Community College students ($5,113 vs. $5,016).

AACC vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AACC or HCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between HCC and AACC.

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

AACC vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AACC and HCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Howard Community College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than AACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,400 vs. $41,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard Community College graduates have a $275 lower median loan debt than AACC graduates ($9,500 vs. $9,775).
• Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AACC graduates ($98 vs. $101).
• More AACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.