HCC vs. Northern Virginia Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard Community College in Columbia, MD with Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Virginia Community College is larger than HCC based on total student enrollment (56,457 students vs. 8,643 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard Community College is located in Columbia, MD (Large Suburban setting); Northern Virginia Community College is in Annandale, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Howard Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northern Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard Community College 14:1; Northern Virginia Community College 31:1.

HCC vs. Northern Virginia Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or Northern Virginia 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 Northern Virginia Community College than HCC ($9,627 vs. $11,468).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Virginia Community College are 48.2% lower than at Howard Community College ($12,684 vs. $24,498).
• Howard Community College is 22.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northern Virginia Community College (about $1,333 more per year; $7,224.00 vs. $5,891.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.9% higher at Northern Virginia Community College than at Howard Community College (about $2,785 more per year; $12,409.00 vs. $9,624.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard Community College than at Northern Virginia Community College (58% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Virginia Community College students is 49.9% larger than aid received by Howard Community College students ($7,519 vs. $5,016).

HCC vs. Northern Virginia Community College Admissions comparison

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

HCC vs. Northern Virginia Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and Northern Virginia 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 Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $42,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard Community College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Northern Virginia Community College graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northern Virginia Community College graduates ($98 vs. $113).
• More Northern Virginia Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 36%)

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.