Central Texas College vs. HCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Texas College in Killeen, 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 Central Texas College based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 8,373 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Texas College is located in Killeen, TX (Rural Fringe setting); Houston Community College is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
• Central Texas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Houston Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Texas College 17:1; Houston Community College 23:1.

Central Texas College vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Texas 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 Houston Community College than Central Texas College ($5,734 vs. $9,817).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Texas College are 22.8% lower than at Houston Community College ($7,200 vs. $9,330).
• Central Texas College is 12.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $546 more per year; $4,890.00 vs. $4,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.4% higher at Central Texas College than at Houston Community College (about $2,040 more per year; $7,500.00 vs. $5,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Texas College than at Houston Community College (82% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Community College students is 31.1% larger than aid received by Central Texas College students ($6,768 vs. $5,161).

Central Texas College vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Texas 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 Central Texas College.

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

Central Texas College vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Texas 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 Houston Community College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Central Texas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $34,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Texas College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($6,500 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Central Texas College graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($67 vs. $108).
• More Central Texas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (30% 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.