HACC vs. Luzerne County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Harrisburg Area Community College is larger than Luzerne County Community College based on total student enrollment (12,585 students vs. 4,460 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

HACC vs. Luzerne County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or Luzerne County Community College? 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 Luzerne County Community College than HACC ($8,491 vs. $12,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Luzerne County Community College are 26.5% lower than at Harrisburg Area Community College ($8,100 vs. $11,024).
• Luzerne County Community College is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than HACC (about $1,935 more per year; $11,430.00 vs. $9,495.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.4% higher at Luzerne County Community College than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $3,788 more per year; $16,260.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Luzerne County Community College than at Harrisburg Area Community College (64% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students is 4.6% larger than aid received by Luzerne County Community College students ($6,230 vs. $5,958).

HACC vs. Luzerne County Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HACC or Luzerne County Community College? 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 Luzerne County Community College 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; Luzerne County Community College - Open admission.

HACC vs. Luzerne County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and Luzerne County Community College? 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 $1,700 more per year than Luzerne County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $34,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Luzerne County Community College graduates have a $8,914 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($10,748 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, Luzerne County Community College graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($111 vs. $203).
• More Luzerne County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HACC students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 42%)

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.