Austin Community College District vs. HCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Austin Community College District in Austin, TX with Houston Community College in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Houston Community College is larger than Austin Community College District based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 39,727 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Austin Community College District is located in Austin, TX (Large City setting); Houston Community College is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
• Austin Community College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Houston Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Austin Community College District 19:1; Houston Community College 23:1.

Austin Community College District vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Austin Community College District 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 Austin Community College District than HCC ($5,466 vs. $5,734).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houston Community College are 48.8% lower than at Austin Community College District ($9,330 vs. $18,240).
• Austin Community College District is 97.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $4,236 more per year; $8,580.00 vs. $4,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 94% higher at Austin Community College District than at Houston Community College (about $5,130 more per year; $10,590.00 vs. $5,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houston Community College than at Austin Community College District (69% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Austin Community College District students is 40.8% larger than aid received by Houston Community College students ($9,527 vs. $6,768).

Austin Community College District vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Austin Community College District 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 Austin Community College District.

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

Austin Community College District vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Austin Community College District 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 Austin Community College District earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,200 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Austin Community College District graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($7,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Austin Community College District graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($77 vs. $108).
• More Austin Community College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 25%)

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.