Frederick Community College vs. HCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Frederick Community College in Frederick, 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 Frederick Community College based on total student enrollment (8,643 students vs. 7,293 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Frederick Community College is located in Frederick, MD (Small City setting); Howard Community College is in Columbia, MD (Large Suburban setting).
• Frederick 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: Frederick Community College 20:1; Howard Community College 14:1.

Frederick Community College vs. HCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Frederick Community 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 Frederick Community College than HCC ($9,784 vs. $11,468).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Frederick Community College are 59.8% lower than at Howard Community College ($9,840 vs. $24,498).
• Frederick Community College is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $370 more per year; $7,594.00 vs. $7,224.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at Frederick Community College than at Howard Community College (about $418 more per year; $10,042.00 vs. $9,624.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard Community College than at Frederick Community College (58% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard Community College students is 2.9% larger than aid received by Frederick Community College students ($5,016 vs. $4,875).

Frederick Community College vs. HCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Frederick Community 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 Frederick Community College.

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

Frederick Community College vs. HCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Frederick Community 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 $2,000 more per year than Frederick Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,400 vs. $40,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Frederick Community College graduates have a $1,100 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($8,400 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Frederick Community College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($86 vs. $98).
• More Frederick Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.