Cecil College vs. HCC

Deciding between Cecil College and Howard Community College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cecil College North East, MD
  • HCC Columbia, MD
  • Setting
  • Cecil College Rural Fringe
  • HCC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cecil College 1,749
  • HCC 8,643
  • Type
  • Cecil College Public 2 Year
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cecil College
  • HCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cecil College -
  • HCC -
  • Status
  • Cecil College Non-profit
  • HCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cecil College
  • HCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cecil College $5,640
  • HCC $4,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cecil College $10,830
  • HCC $9,624
  • Room & Board
  • Cecil College $13,766
  • HCC $24,498
  • Average Net Price
  • Cecil College $10,128
  • HCC $11,468
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cecil College $4,761
  • HCC $5,016
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cecil College 77%
  • HCC 58%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cecil College -
  • HCC -
  • Admitted
  • Cecil College -
  • HCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cecil College Open
  • HCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Cecil College Open
  • HCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cecil College
  • HCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cecil College
  • HCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cecil College -
  • HCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cecil College -
  • HCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cecil College Unavailable
  • HCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cecil College
  • HCC
  • ACT Range
  • Cecil College
  • HCC
  • SAT Range
  • Cecil College
  • HCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cecil College Open admission
  • HCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Cecil College
  • HCC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cecil College 13:1
  • HCC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cecil College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Business (20%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
    • Education (6%)
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (54%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Engineering Technology (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cecil College -
  • HCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cecil College $35,700
  • HCC $42,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cecil College 44%
  • HCC 36%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cecil College $10,500
  • HCC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cecil College $108
  • HCC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cecil College 36%
  • HCC 42%
  • % Women
  • Cecil College 64%
  • HCC 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cecil College Low
  • HCC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cecil College No
  • HCC No
  • % White
  • Cecil College 77%
  • HCC 37%
  • % Asian
  • Cecil College 1%
  • HCC 12%
  • % Black
  • Cecil College 10%
  • HCC 29%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cecil College 5%
  • HCC 10%
  • % Native American
  • Cecil College 0%
  • HCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cecil College 0%
  • HCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cecil College 4%
  • HCC 5%
  • % International
  • Cecil College 1%
  • HCC 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cecil College 2%
  • HCC 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cecil College 82%
  • HCC 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cecil College 17%
  • HCC 2%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cecil College No
  • HCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cecil College No
  • HCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cecil College No
  • HCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cecil College Yes
  • HCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cecil College No
  • HCC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Cecil College in North East, 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 Cecil College based on total student enrollment (8,643 students vs. 1,749 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cecil College is located in North East, MD (Rural Fringe setting); Howard Community College is in Columbia, MD (Large Suburban setting).
  • Cecil College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Howard Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cecil College 13:1; Howard Community College 14:1.

Cecil College vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cecil College 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 Cecil College than HCC ($10,128 vs. $11,468).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cecil College are 43.8% lower than at Howard Community College ($13,766 vs. $24,498).
  • Cecil College is 25.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $1,866 more per year; $9,090.00 vs. $7,224.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.5% higher at Cecil College than at Howard Community College (about $1,206 more per year; $10,830.00 vs. $9,624.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cecil College than at Howard Community College (77% vs. 58%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Howard Community College students is 5.4% larger than aid received by Cecil College students ($5,016 vs. $4,761).

Cecil College vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cecil College 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 Cecil College.

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

Cecil College vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cecil College 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 $6,700 more per year than Cecil College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,400 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard Community College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Cecil College graduates ($9,500 vs. $10,500).
  • Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cecil College graduates ($98 vs. $108).
  • More Cecil College 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.