HCC vs. PSC

Deciding between Hillsborough Community College and Polk State 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
  • PSC Winter Haven, FL
  • Setting
  • HCC Large City
  • PSC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC 21,483
  • PSC 10,318
  • Type
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • PSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HCC
  • PSC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HCC -
  • PSC -
  • Status
  • HCC Non-profit
  • PSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HCC
  • PSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HCC $2,506
  • PSC $2,694
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HCC $9,111
  • PSC $9,817
  • Room & Board
  • HCC $12,780
  • PSC $12,186
  • Average Net Price
  • HCC $3,333
  • PSC $10,011
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HCC $6,797
  • PSC $3,305
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HCC 63%
  • PSC 72%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HCC 23:1
  • PSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Education (4%)
  • PSC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Work and Family Studies (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HCC -
  • PSC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HCC $35,600
  • PSC $34,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HCC 34%
  • PSC 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HCC $9,500
  • PSC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HCC $98
  • PSC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HCC 40%
  • PSC 36%
  • % Women
  • HCC 60%
  • PSC 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HCC Very High
  • PSC High
  • HBCU
  • HCC No
  • PSC No
  • % White
  • HCC 35%
  • PSC 53%
  • % Asian
  • HCC 3%
  • PSC 2%
  • % Black
  • HCC 18%
  • PSC 17%
  • % Hispanic
  • HCC 26%
  • PSC 20%
  • % Native American
  • HCC 0%
  • PSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HCC 0%
  • PSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HCC 2%
  • PSC 2%
  • % International
  • HCC 4%
  • PSC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HCC 11%
  • PSC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HCC 97%
  • PSC 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HCC 1%
  • PSC 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL with Polk State College in Winter Haven, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hillsborough Community College is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (21,483 students vs. 10,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hillsborough Community College is located in Tampa, FL (Large City setting); Polk State College is in Winter Haven, FL (Small City setting).
  • Hillsborough Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Polk State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hillsborough Community College 23:1; Polk State College 19:1.

HCC vs. PSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or PSC? 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 PSC ($3,333 vs. $10,011).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Polk State College are 4.6% lower than at Hillsborough Community College ($12,186 vs. $12,780).
  • Polk State College is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $188 more per year; $2,694.00 vs. $2,506.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at PSC than at Hillsborough Community College (about $706 more per year; $9,817.00 vs. $9,111.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Polk State College than at Hillsborough Community College (72% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Hillsborough Community College students is 105.7% larger than aid received by Polk State College students ($6,797 vs. $3,305).

HCC vs. PSC Admissions comparison

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

HCC vs. PSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and PSC? 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 $1,600 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $34,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Polk State College and HCC graduates have the same median loan debt ($9,500 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Polk State College and HCC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($98 vs. $98).
  • More PSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.