HACC vs. RACC

Comparable Facts

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

Harrisburg Area Community College is larger than RACC based on total student enrollment (12,585 students vs. 5,369 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

HACC vs. RACC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or RACC? 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 Reading Area Community College than HACC ($9,089 vs. $12,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reading Area Community College are 2% lower than at Harrisburg Area Community College ($10,800 vs. $11,024).
• Reading Area Community College is 19.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than HACC (about $1,815 more per year; $11,310.00 vs. $9,495.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at RACC than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $38 more per year; $12,510.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reading Area Community College than at Harrisburg Area Community College (74% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students is 11.2% larger than aid received by Reading Area Community College students ($6,230 vs. $5,603).

HACC vs. RACC Admissions comparison

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

HACC vs. RACC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and RACC? 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 $3,000 more per year than RACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reading Area Community College graduates have a $9,062 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($10,600 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, RACC graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($109 vs. $203).
• More HACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RACC students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 33%)

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.