HCC vs. MCC

Deciding between Hillsborough Community College and McLennan Community 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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HCC Tampa, FL
  • MCC Waco, TX
  • Setting
  • HCC Large City
  • MCC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC 21,483
  • MCC 7,850
  • Type
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • MCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HCC
  • MCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HCC -
  • MCC -
  • Status
  • HCC Non-profit
  • MCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HCC
  • MCC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HCC $2,506
  • MCC $3,660
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HCC $9,111
  • MCC $5,910
  • Room & Board
  • HCC $12,780
  • MCC $8,424
  • Average Net Price
  • HCC $3,333
  • MCC $4,927
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HCC $6,797
  • MCC $8,007
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HCC 63%
  • MCC 82%
  • Admissions

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

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HCC 23:1
  • MCC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Education (4%)
  • MCC
    • Health Professions (38%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (29%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HCC -
  • MCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HCC $35,600
  • MCC $33,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HCC 34%
  • MCC 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HCC $9,500
  • MCC $10,366
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HCC $98
  • MCC $107
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HCC 40%
  • MCC 33%
  • % Women
  • HCC 60%
  • MCC 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HCC Very High
  • MCC High
  • HBCU
  • HCC No
  • MCC No
  • % White
  • HCC 35%
  • MCC 52%
  • % Asian
  • HCC 3%
  • MCC 1%
  • % Black
  • HCC 18%
  • MCC 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • HCC 26%
  • MCC 29%
  • % Native American
  • HCC 0%
  • MCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HCC 0%
  • MCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HCC 2%
  • MCC 3%
  • % International
  • HCC 4%
  • MCC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HCC 11%
  • MCC 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HCC 97%
  • MCC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HCC 1%
  • MCC 2%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL with McLennan Community College in Waco, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hillsborough Community College is larger than MCC based on total student enrollment (21,483 students vs. 7,850 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hillsborough Community College is located in Tampa, FL (Large City setting); McLennan Community College is in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • Hillsborough Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. McLennan Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hillsborough Community College 23:1; McLennan Community College 15:1.

HCC vs. MCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or MCC? 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 MCC ($3,333 vs. $4,927).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McLennan Community College are 34.1% lower than at Hillsborough Community College ($8,424 vs. $12,780).
  • McLennan Community College is 67.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $1,694 more per year; $4,200.00 vs. $2,506.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.2% higher at HCC than at McLennan Community College (about $3,201 more per year; $9,111.00 vs. $5,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at McLennan Community College than at Hillsborough Community College (82% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McLennan Community College students is 17.8% larger than aid received by Hillsborough Community College students ($8,007 vs. $6,797).

HCC vs. MCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or MCC? 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 MCC 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; MCC - Open admission.

HCC vs. MCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and MCC? 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 $1,800 more per year than MCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $33,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hillsborough Community College graduates have a $866 lower median loan debt than MCC graduates ($9,500 vs. $10,366).
  • Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MCC graduates ($98 vs. $107).
  • More HCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MCC students, three years after graduation. (34% vs. 28%)

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.