HCC vs. PGCC

Deciding between Howard Community College and Prince George's Community 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.

Prince George's Community College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HCC Columbia, MD
  • PGCC Largo, MD
  • Setting
  • HCC Large Suburban
  • PGCC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC 8,643
  • PGCC 11,473
  • Type
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • PGCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HCC
  • PGCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HCC -
  • PGCC -
  • Status
  • HCC Non-profit
  • PGCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HCC
  • PGCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HCC $4,080
  • PGCC $4,034
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HCC $9,624
  • PGCC $8,762
  • Room & Board
  • HCC $24,498
  • PGCC $20,584
  • Average Net Price
  • HCC $11,468
  • PGCC $8,800
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HCC $5,016
  • PGCC $6,707
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HCC 58%
  • PGCC 76%

  • Admissions

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

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HCC 14:1
  • PGCC 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (54%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Engineering Technology (4%)
  • PGCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (34%)
    • Business (25%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HCC -
  • PGCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HCC $42,400
  • PGCC $42,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HCC 36%
  • PGCC 30%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HCC $9,500
  • PGCC $8,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HCC $98
  • PGCC $82

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HCC 42%
  • PGCC 37%
  • % Women
  • HCC 58%
  • PGCC 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HCC Very High
  • PGCC Low
  • HBCU
  • HCC No
  • PGCC No
  • % White
  • HCC 37%
  • PGCC 5%
  • % Asian
  • HCC 12%
  • PGCC 4%
  • % Black
  • HCC 29%
  • PGCC 72%
  • % Hispanic
  • HCC 10%
  • PGCC 11%
  • % Native American
  • HCC 0%
  • PGCC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HCC 0%
  • PGCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HCC 5%
  • PGCC 0%
  • % International
  • HCC 5%
  • PGCC 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HCC 2%
  • PGCC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HCC 97%
  • PGCC 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HCC 2%
  • PGCC 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard Community College in Columbia, MD with Prince George's Community College in Largo, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Prince George's Community College is larger than HCC based on total student enrollment (11,473 students vs. 8,643 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Howard Community College is located in Columbia, MD (Large Suburban setting); Prince George's Community College is in Largo, MD (Large Suburban setting).
  • Howard Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Prince George's Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard Community College 14:1; Prince George's Community College 16:1.

HCC vs. PGCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCC or PGCC? 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 Prince George's Community College than HCC ($8,800 vs. $11,468).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Prince George's Community College are 16% lower than at Howard Community College ($20,584 vs. $24,498).
  • Howard Community College is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than PGCC (about $910 more per year; $7,224.00 vs. $6,314.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at HCC than at Prince George's Community College (about $862 more per year; $9,624.00 vs. $8,762.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Prince George's Community College than at Howard Community College (76% vs. 58%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Prince George's Community College students is 33.7% larger than aid received by Howard Community College students ($6,707 vs. $5,016).

HCC vs. PGCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCC or PGCC? 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 PGCC 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; PGCC - Open admission.

HCC vs. PGCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCC and PGCC? 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 Prince George's Community College earn a median of about $100 more per year than HCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $42,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Prince George's Community College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than HCC graduates ($8,000 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, PGCC graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HCC graduates ($82 vs. $98).
  • More HCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PGCC students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 30%)

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.