HACC vs. Community College of Philadelphia

Comparable Facts

Compare Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg, PA with Community College of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Community College of Philadelphia is larger than HACC based on total student enrollment (12,926 students vs. 12,585 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harrisburg Area Community College is located in Harrisburg, PA (Small City setting); Community College of Philadelphia is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Harrisburg Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Community College of Philadelphia is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harrisburg Area Community College 13:1; Community College of Philadelphia 15:1.

HACC vs. Community College of Philadelphia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or Community College of Philadelphia? 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 Community College of Philadelphia than HACC ($11,148 vs. $12,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Community College of Philadelphia are 2% lower than at Harrisburg Area Community College ($10,800 vs. $11,024).
• Harrisburg Area Community College is 9.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Community College of Philadelphia (about $807 more per year; $9,495.00 vs. $8,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Community College of Philadelphia than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $272 more per year; $12,744.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Community College of Philadelphia than at Harrisburg Area Community College (78% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Community College of Philadelphia students is 29.4% larger than aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students ($8,063 vs. $6,230).

HACC vs. Community College of Philadelphia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HACC or Community College of Philadelphia? 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 Community College of Philadelphia and HACC.

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

HACC vs. Community College of Philadelphia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and Community College of Philadelphia? 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 Harrisburg Area Community College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Community College of Philadelphia graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Community College of Philadelphia graduates have a $8,912 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($10,750 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, Community College of Philadelphia graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($111 vs. $203).
• More HACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Community College of Philadelphia students, three years after graduation. (42% 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.