HACC vs. Westmoreland County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Harrisburg Area Community College is larger than Westmoreland County Community College based on total student enrollment (12,585 students vs. 3,990 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harrisburg Area Community College is located in Harrisburg, PA (Small City setting); Westmoreland County Community College is in Youngwood, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Harrisburg Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Westmoreland County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harrisburg Area Community College 13:1; Westmoreland County Community College 14:1.

HACC vs. Westmoreland County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County Community College than HACC ($4,247 vs. $12,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westmoreland County Community College are 34.7% lower than at Harrisburg Area Community College ($7,200 vs. $11,024).
• Westmoreland County Community College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than HACC (about $729 more per year; $10,224.00 vs. $9,495.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.7% higher at Westmoreland County Community College than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $1,952 more per year; $14,424.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westmoreland County Community College than at Harrisburg Area Community College (64% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westmoreland County Community College students is 3.1% larger than aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students ($6,422 vs. $6,230).

HACC vs. Westmoreland County Community College Admissions comparison

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

HACC vs. Westmoreland County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and Westmoreland 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 Harrisburg Area Community College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Westmoreland County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $33,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Westmoreland County Community College graduates have a $10,412 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($9,250 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, Westmoreland County Community College graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($95 vs. $203).
• More Westmoreland County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HACC students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.