HCC vs. Palm Beach State College

Comparable Facts

Compare Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL with Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Palm Beach State College is larger than HCC based on total student enrollment (25,916 students vs. 21,483 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hillsborough Community College is located in Tampa, FL (Large City setting); Palm Beach State College is in Lake Worth, FL (Large Suburban setting).
• Hillsborough Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Palm Beach State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hillsborough Community College 23:1; Palm Beach State College 31:1.

HCC vs. Palm Beach State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or Palm Beach State 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 Hillsborough Community College than Palm Beach State College ($3,333 vs. $9,577).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hillsborough Community College are 0.4% lower than at Palm Beach State College ($12,780 vs. $12,825).
• Palm Beach State College is 21.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $544 more per year; $3,050.00 vs. $2,506.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at Palm Beach State College than at Hillsborough Community College (about $1,799 more per year; $10,910.00 vs. $9,111.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Palm Beach State College than at Hillsborough Community College (68% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Palm Beach State College students is 4.6% larger than aid received by Hillsborough Community College students ($7,107 vs. $6,797).

HCC vs. Palm Beach State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or Palm Beach State 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 Palm Beach State College 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; Palm Beach State College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Palm Beach State College Aug 20, 2027.

HCC vs. Palm Beach State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and Palm Beach State 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 Palm Beach State College earn a median of about $400 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($5,750 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Palm Beach State College graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($59 vs. $98).
• More Palm Beach State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.