HCC vs. Carroll Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard Community College in Columbia, MD with Carroll Community College in Westminster, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard Community College is larger than Carroll Community College based on total student enrollment (8,643 students vs. 3,337 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard Community College is located in Columbia, MD (Large Suburban setting); Carroll Community College is in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting).
• Howard Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Carroll Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard Community College 14:1; Carroll Community College 15:1.

HCC vs. Carroll Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or Carroll Community 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 Carroll Community College than HCC ($3,886 vs. $11,468).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carroll Community College are 77.5% lower than at Howard Community College ($5,500 vs. $24,498).
• Carroll Community College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC (about $54 more per year; $7,278.00 vs. $7,224.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Carroll Community College than at Howard Community College (about $534 more per year; $10,158.00 vs. $9,624.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carroll Community College than at Howard Community College (60% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard Community College students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Carroll Community College students ($5,016 vs. $4,579).

HCC vs. Carroll Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or Carroll Community 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 Carroll Community 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; Carroll Community College - Open admission.

HCC vs. Carroll Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and Carroll Community 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 Howard Community College earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Carroll Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,400 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard Community College graduates have a $1,720 lower median loan debt than Carroll Community College graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,220).
• Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carroll Community College graduates ($98 vs. $116).

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.