HACC vs. PIA

Comparable Facts

Compare Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg, PA with Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harrisburg Area Community College is larger than PIA based on total student enrollment (12,585 students vs. 663 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harrisburg Area Community College is located in Harrisburg, PA (Small City setting); Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is in West Mifflin, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Harrisburg Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is a private, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harrisburg Area Community College 13:1; Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics 15:1.

HACC vs. PIA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or PIA? 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 PIA ($12,059 vs. $30,118).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harrisburg Area Community College are 14% lower than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics ($11,024 vs. $12,826).
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is 97.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than HACC (about $9,235 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $9,495.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.2% higher at PIA than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $6,258 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harrisburg Area Community College than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (58% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics students is 13.6% larger than aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students ($7,080 vs. $6,230).

HACC vs. PIA Admissions comparison

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

HACC vs. PIA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and PIA? 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 Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics earn a median of about $22,000 more per year than HACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics graduates have a $5,164 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($14,498 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, PIA graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($149 vs. $203).
• More PIA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HACC students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.