HACC vs. Montgomery County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Harrisburg Area Community College is larger than Montgomery County Community College based on total student enrollment (12,585 students vs. 9,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harrisburg Area Community College is located in Harrisburg, PA (Small City setting); Montgomery County Community College is in Blue Bell, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Harrisburg Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Montgomery County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harrisburg Area Community College 13:1; Montgomery County Community College 19:1.

HACC vs. Montgomery County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or Montgomery 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 Montgomery County Community College than HACC ($10,126 vs. $12,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harrisburg Area Community College are 24.4% lower than at Montgomery County Community College ($11,024 vs. $14,580).
• Montgomery County Community College is 26.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than HACC (about $2,475 more per year; $11,970.00 vs. $9,495.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.3% higher at Montgomery County Community College than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $4,778 more per year; $17,250.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harrisburg Area Community College than at Montgomery County Community College (58% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students is 1.4% larger than aid received by Montgomery County Community College students ($6,230 vs. $6,147).

HACC vs. Montgomery County Community College Admissions comparison

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

HACC vs. Montgomery County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and Montgomery 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 Montgomery County Community College earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than HACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Montgomery County Community College graduates have a $8,662 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($11,000 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, Montgomery County Community College graduates have an estimated $90 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($113 vs. $203).
• More Montgomery County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HACC students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.