HACC vs. Laurel Technical Institute

Comparable Facts

Compare Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg, PA with Laurel Technical Institute in Hermitage, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harrisburg Area Community College is larger than Laurel Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (12,585 students vs. 163 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harrisburg Area Community College is located in Harrisburg, PA (Small City setting); Laurel Technical Institute is in Hermitage, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Harrisburg Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Laurel Technical Institute is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harrisburg Area Community College 13:1; Laurel Technical Institute 9:1.

HACC vs. Laurel Technical Institute Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or Laurel Technical Institute? 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 Laurel Technical Institute than HACC ($6,914 vs. $12,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laurel Technical Institute are 70.6% lower than at Harrisburg Area Community College ($3,240 vs. $11,024).
• Laurel Technical Institute is 41.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than HACC (about $3,936 more per year; $13,431.00 vs. $9,495.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Laurel Technical Institute than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $959 more per year; $13,431.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laurel Technical Institute than at Harrisburg Area Community College (93% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Laurel Technical Institute students is 25.3% larger than aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students ($7,804 vs. $6,230).

HACC vs. Laurel Technical Institute Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HACC or Laurel Technical Institute? 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 Laurel Technical Institute and HACC.

• Harrisburg Area Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HACC - Open admission; Laurel Technical Institute - Test-free.

HACC vs. Laurel Technical Institute Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and Laurel Technical Institute? 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 $15,600 more per year than Laurel Technical Institute graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $20,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Laurel Technical Institute graduates have a $7,142 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($12,520 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, Laurel Technical Institute graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($129 vs. $203).
• More HACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laurel Technical Institute students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 32%)

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.