Harcum College vs. RACC

Comparable Facts

Compare Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA with Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Reading Area Community College is larger than Harcum College based on total student enrollment (5,369 students vs. 908 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harcum College is located in Bryn Mawr, PA (Large Suburban setting); Reading Area Community College is in Reading, PA (Small City setting).
• Harcum College is a private, non-profit 2-year institution. Reading Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harcum College 6:1; Reading Area Community College 19:1.

Harcum College vs. RACC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harcum College or RACC? 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 Reading Area Community College than Harcum College ($9,089 vs. $22,752).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reading Area Community College are 10% lower than at Harcum College ($10,800 vs. $12,000).
• Harcum College is 182.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RACC (about $20,690 more per year; $32,000.00 vs. $11,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 155.8% higher at Harcum College than at Reading Area Community College (about $19,490 more per year; $32,000.00 vs. $12,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harcum College than at Reading Area Community College (96% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Harcum College students is 261.1% larger than aid received by Reading Area Community College students ($20,232 vs. $5,603).

Harcum College vs. RACC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harcum College or RACC? 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 RACC and Harcum College.

• Reading Area Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harcum College - Not reported; RACC - Open admission.

Harcum College vs. RACC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harcum College and RACC? 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 Harcum College earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than RACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,000 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reading Area Community College graduates have a $9,400 lower median loan debt than Harcum College graduates ($10,600 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, RACC graduates have an estimated $97 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Harcum College graduates ($109 vs. $206).
• More Harcum College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RACC students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 33%)

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.