HCC vs. FGC

Deciding between Hillsborough Community College and Florida Gateway College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Hillsborough Community College
Florida Gateway College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HCC Tampa, FL
  • FGC Lake City, FL
  • Setting
  • HCC Large City
  • FGC Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC 21,483
  • FGC 2,921
  • Type
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • FGC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HCC
  • FGC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HCC -
  • FGC -
  • Status
  • HCC Non-profit
  • FGC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HCC
  • FGC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HCC $2,506
  • FGC $3,100
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HCC $9,111
  • FGC $11,747
  • Room & Board
  • HCC $12,780
  • FGC $6,700
  • Average Net Price
  • HCC $3,333
  • FGC $6,833
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HCC $6,797
  • FGC $7,894
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HCC 63%
  • FGC 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HCC -
  • FGC -
  • Admitted
  • HCC -
  • FGC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HCC Open
  • FGC Open
  • Enrolled
  • HCC Open
  • FGC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • HCC
  • FGC
  • Typical ACT score
  • HCC
  • FGC
  • Average High School GPA
  • HCC -
  • FGC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HCC -
  • FGC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • HCC Unavailable
  • FGC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • HCC
  • FGC
  • ACT Range
  • HCC
  • FGC
  • SAT Range
  • HCC
  • FGC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HCC Open admission
  • FGC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • HCC
  • FGC Aug 6, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HCC 23:1
  • FGC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Education (4%)
  • FGC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (38%)
    • Health Professions (38%)
    • Agriculture (8%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HCC -
  • FGC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HCC $35,600
  • FGC $30,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HCC 34%
  • FGC 41%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HCC $9,500
  • FGC $4,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HCC $98
  • FGC $46

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HCC 40%
  • FGC 33%
  • % Women
  • HCC 60%
  • FGC 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HCC Very High
  • FGC Low
  • HBCU
  • HCC No
  • FGC No
  • % White
  • HCC 35%
  • FGC 79%
  • % Asian
  • HCC 3%
  • FGC 1%
  • % Black
  • HCC 18%
  • FGC 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • HCC 26%
  • FGC 5%
  • % Native American
  • HCC 0%
  • FGC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HCC 0%
  • FGC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HCC 2%
  • FGC 2%
  • % International
  • HCC 4%
  • FGC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HCC 11%
  • FGC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HCC 97%
  • FGC 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HCC 1%
  • FGC 3%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • HCC Yes
  • FGC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • HCC No
  • FGC No
  • Meal Plan
  • HCC No
  • FGC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • HCC Yes
  • FGC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • HCC Yes
  • FGC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL with Florida Gateway College in Lake City, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hillsborough Community College is larger than FGC based on total student enrollment (21,483 students vs. 2,921 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hillsborough Community College is located in Tampa, FL (Large City setting); Florida Gateway College is in Lake City, FL (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Hillsborough Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Florida Gateway College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hillsborough Community College 23:1; Florida Gateway College 14:1.

HCC vs. FGC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or FGC? 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 Hillsborough Community College than FGC ($3,333 vs. $6,833).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Gateway College are 47.6% lower than at Hillsborough Community College ($6,700 vs. $12,780).
  • Florida Gateway College is 23.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $594 more per year; $3,100.00 vs. $2,506.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.9% higher at FGC than at Hillsborough Community College (about $2,636 more per year; $11,747.00 vs. $9,111.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida Gateway College than at Hillsborough Community College (83% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Gateway College students is 16.1% larger than aid received by Hillsborough Community College students ($7,894 vs. $6,797).

HCC vs. FGC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or FGC? 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 FGC and HCC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HCC - Open admission; FGC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: FGC Aug 6, 2027.

HCC vs. FGC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and FGC? 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 Hillsborough Community College earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than FGC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $30,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Gateway College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($4,500 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, FGC graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($46 vs. $98).
  • More FGC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 34%)

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.