HACC vs. Pennsylvania Institute of Technology

Comparable Facts

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

Harrisburg Area Community College is larger than Pennsylvania Institute of Technology based on total student enrollment (12,585 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harrisburg Area Community College is located in Harrisburg, PA (Small City setting); Pennsylvania Institute of Technology is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Harrisburg Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pennsylvania Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harrisburg Area Community College 13:1; Pennsylvania Institute of Technology 17:1.

HACC vs. Pennsylvania Institute of Technology Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or Pennsylvania Institute of Technology? 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 Harrisburg Area Community College than Pennsylvania Institute of Technology ($12,059 vs. $17,980).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harrisburg Area Community College are 24% lower than at Pennsylvania Institute of Technology ($11,024 vs. $14,500).
• Pennsylvania Institute of Technology is 56.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than HACC (about $5,355 more per year; $14,850.00 vs. $9,495.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.1% higher at Pennsylvania Institute of Technology than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $2,378 more per year; $14,850.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Institute of Technology than at Harrisburg Area Community College (96% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Institute of Technology students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students ($6,307 vs. $6,230).

HACC vs. Pennsylvania Institute of Technology Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HACC or Pennsylvania Institute of Technology? 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 Institute of Technology 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 Institute of Technology - Open admission.

HACC vs. Pennsylvania Institute of Technology Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and Pennsylvania Institute of Technology? 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 $1,900 more per year than Pennsylvania Institute of Technology graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Institute of Technology graduates have a $8,616 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($11,046 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania Institute of Technology graduates have an estimated $89 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($114 vs. $203).
• More HACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania Institute of Technology students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 22%)

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.