HCC vs. Wharton County Junior College

Comparable Facts

Compare Houston Community College in Houston, TX with Wharton County Junior College in Wharton, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Houston Community College is larger than Wharton County Junior College based on total student enrollment (53,253 students vs. 5,504 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Houston Community College is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Wharton County Junior College is in Wharton, TX (Distant Town setting).
• Houston Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Wharton County Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Community College 23:1; Wharton County Junior College 16:1.

HCC vs. Wharton County Junior College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College than HCC ($3,754 vs. $5,734).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wharton County Junior College are 35.7% lower than at Houston Community College ($6,000 vs. $9,330).
• Wharton County Junior College is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $312 more per year; $4,656.00 vs. $4,344.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at Wharton County Junior College than at Houston Community College (about $444 more per year; $5,904.00 vs. $5,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houston Community College than at Wharton County Junior College (69% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wharton County Junior College students is 14.9% larger than aid received by Houston Community College students ($7,776 vs. $6,768).

HCC vs. Wharton County Junior College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior 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; Wharton County Junior College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wharton County Junior College Aug 14, 2027.

HCC vs. Wharton County Junior College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and Wharton County Junior 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 Wharton County Junior College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wharton County Junior College graduates have a $3,045 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($7,455 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Wharton County Junior College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($77 vs. $108).
• More Wharton County Junior College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.