HCC vs. Tarrant County College

Comparable Facts

Compare Houston Community College in Houston, TX with Tarrant County College District in Fort Worth, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Houston Community College is larger than Tarrant County College based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 43,928 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Houston Community College is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Tarrant County College District is in Fort Worth, TX (Large City setting).
• Houston Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tarrant County College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Community College 23:1; Tarrant County College District 18:1.

HCC vs. Tarrant County College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or Tarrant County 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 Tarrant County College District than HCC ($4,449 vs. $5,734).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houston Community College are 35.6% lower than at Tarrant County College District ($9,330 vs. $14,481).
• Houston Community College is 22.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tarrant County College (about $807 more per year; $4,344.00 vs. $3,537.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.3% higher at Tarrant County College than at Houston Community College (about $2,910 more per year; $8,370.00 vs. $5,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houston Community College than at Tarrant County College District (69% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tarrant County College District students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Houston Community College students ($6,830 vs. $6,768).

HCC vs. Tarrant County College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or Tarrant County 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 Tarrant County 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; Tarrant County College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Tarrant County College Aug 16, 2027.

HCC vs. Tarrant County College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and Tarrant County 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 Houston Community College earn a median of about $500 more per year than Tarrant County College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $37,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tarrant County College District graduates have a $1,680 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($8,820 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Tarrant County College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($91 vs. $108).
• More Tarrant County College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (29% vs. 25%)

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.