Hood vs. Beacon College

Comparable Facts

Compare Hood College in Frederick, MD with Beacon College in Leesburg, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hood College is larger than Beacon College based on total student enrollment (2,101 students vs. 531 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hood College is located in Frederick, MD (Small City setting); Beacon College is in Leesburg, FL (Small Suburban setting).
• Hood College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Beacon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hood College 10:1; Beacon College 12:1.

Hood vs. Beacon College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hood or Beacon 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 Hood College than Beacon College ($23,350 vs. $46,997).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Beacon College are 3.3% lower than at Hood College ($15,658 vs. $16,200).
• Beacon College is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hood (about $3,980 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $47,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at Beacon College than at Hood College (about $3,980 more per year; $51,680.00 vs. $47,700.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hood College than at Beacon College (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hood College students is 58.2% larger than aid received by Beacon College students ($37,957 vs. $23,988).

Hood vs. Beacon College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hood or Beacon 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 Beacon College and Hood.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hood - Test-free; Beacon College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hood Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hood students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Beacon College (3.2).
• Hood has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than Beacon College (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at Hood vs. 38.6% at Beacon College.

Hood vs. Beacon College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hood and Beacon 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).

• Beacon College's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Hood College's (68%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Beacon College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Hood graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Beacon College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hood graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Hood graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Beacon College students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 55%)

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.