HACC vs. Pennsylvania Highlands

Comparable Facts

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

Harrisburg Area Community College is larger than Pennsylvania Highlands based on total student enrollment (12,585 students vs. 2,501 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harrisburg Area Community College is located in Harrisburg, PA (Small City setting); Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is in Johnstown, PA (Small Suburban setting).
• Harrisburg Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harrisburg Area Community College 13:1; Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 16:1.

HACC vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or Pennsylvania Highlands? 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 Pennsylvania Highlands Community College than HACC ($5,519 vs. $12,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are 48.3% lower than at Harrisburg Area Community College ($5,700 vs. $11,024).
• Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than HACC (about $45 more per year; $9,540.00 vs. $9,495.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Pennsylvania Highlands than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $878 more per year; $13,350.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College than at Harrisburg Area Community College (75% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students is 9% larger than aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students ($6,791 vs. $6,230).

HACC vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HACC or Pennsylvania Highlands? 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 Pennsylvania Highlands 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; Pennsylvania Highlands - Open admission.

HACC vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and Pennsylvania Highlands? 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 $7,200 more per year than Pennsylvania Highlands graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates have a $11,594 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($8,068 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands graduates have an estimated $120 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($83 vs. $203).
• More Pennsylvania Highlands 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.