HCC vs. TSTC

Deciding between Houston Community College and Texas State Technical 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.

Houston Community College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HCC Houston, TX
  • TSTC Waco, TX
  • Setting
  • HCC Large City
  • TSTC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC 53,253
  • TSTC 12,077
  • Type
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • TSTC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HCC
  • TSTC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HCC -
  • TSTC -
  • Status
  • HCC Non-profit
  • TSTC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HCC
  • TSTC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HCC $2,040
  • TSTC $7,212
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HCC $5,460
  • TSTC $11,812
  • Room & Board
  • HCC $9,330
  • TSTC $8,244
  • Average Net Price
  • HCC $5,734
  • TSTC $10,421
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HCC $6,768
  • TSTC $10,224
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HCC 69%
  • TSTC 82%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HCC -
  • TSTC -
  • Admitted
  • HCC -
  • TSTC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HCC Open
  • TSTC Open
  • Enrolled
  • HCC Open
  • TSTC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • HCC
  • TSTC
  • Typical ACT score
  • HCC
  • TSTC
  • Average High School GPA
  • HCC -
  • TSTC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HCC -
  • TSTC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • HCC Unavailable
  • TSTC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • HCC
  • TSTC
  • ACT Range
  • HCC
  • TSTC
  • SAT Range
  • HCC
  • TSTC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HCC Open admission
  • TSTC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • HCC
  • TSTC Aug 27, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HCC 23:1
  • TSTC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
  • TSTC

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HCC -
  • TSTC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HCC $38,200
  • TSTC N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HCC 25%
  • TSTC 31%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HCC $10,500
  • TSTC $9,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HCC $108
  • TSTC $98

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HCC 42%
  • TSTC 73%
  • % Women
  • HCC 58%
  • TSTC 27%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HCC Very High
  • TSTC High
  • HBCU
  • HCC No
  • TSTC No
  • % White
  • HCC 14%
  • TSTC 39%
  • % Asian
  • HCC 9%
  • TSTC 1%
  • % Black
  • HCC 30%
  • TSTC 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • HCC 33%
  • TSTC 50%
  • % Native American
  • HCC 0%
  • TSTC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HCC 0%
  • TSTC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HCC 2%
  • TSTC 0%
  • % International
  • HCC 10%
  • TSTC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HCC 2%
  • TSTC 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HCC 88%
  • TSTC 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HCC 1%
  • TSTC 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Houston Community College in Houston, TX with Texas State Technical College in Waco, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Houston Community College is larger than TSTC based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 12,077 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Houston Community College is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Texas State Technical College is in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • Houston Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Texas State Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Community College 23:1; Texas State Technical College 14:1.

HCC vs. TSTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or TSTC? 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 Houston Community College than TSTC ($5,734 vs. $10,421).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas State Technical College are 11.6% lower than at Houston Community College ($8,244 vs. $9,330).
  • Texas State Technical College is 66% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $2,868 more per year; $7,212.00 vs. $4,344.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 116.3% higher at TSTC than at Houston Community College (about $6,352 more per year; $11,812.00 vs. $5,460.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas State Technical College than at Houston Community College (82% vs. 69%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas State Technical College students is 51.1% larger than aid received by Houston Community College students ($10,224 vs. $6,768).

HCC vs. TSTC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or TSTC? 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 TSTC 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; TSTC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TSTC Aug 27, 2027.

HCC vs. TSTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and TSTC? 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).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Texas State Technical College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($9,500 vs. $10,500).
  • Among borrowers, TSTC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($98 vs. $108).
  • More TSTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (31% 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.