HACC vs. Lackawanna College

Comparable Facts

Compare Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg, PA with Lackawanna College in Scranton, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harrisburg Area Community College is larger than Lackawanna College based on total student enrollment (12,585 students vs. 2,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Harrisburg Area Community College is located in Harrisburg, PA (Small City setting); Lackawanna College is in Scranton, PA (Small City setting).
• Harrisburg Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lackawanna College is a private, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Harrisburg Area Community College 13:1; Lackawanna College 21:1.

HACC vs. Lackawanna College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HACC or Lackawanna 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 Harrisburg Area Community College than Lackawanna College ($12,059 vs. $19,682).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harrisburg Area Community College are 9% lower than at Lackawanna College ($11,024 vs. $12,110).
• Lackawanna College is 93.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than HACC (about $8,905 more per year; $18,400.00 vs. $9,495.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.5% higher at Lackawanna College than at Harrisburg Area Community College (about $5,928 more per year; $18,400.00 vs. $12,472.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lackawanna College than at Harrisburg Area Community College (87% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lackawanna College students is 47.2% larger than aid received by Harrisburg Area Community College students ($9,173 vs. $6,230).

HACC vs. Lackawanna College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HACC or Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna College and HACC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.

HACC vs. Lackawanna College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HACC and Lackawanna 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 Harrisburg Area Community College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Lackawanna College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lackawanna College graduates have a $4,419 lower median loan debt than HACC graduates ($15,243 vs. $19,662).
• Among borrowers, Lackawanna College graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HACC graduates ($157 vs. $203).
• More HACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lackawanna College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 37%)

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.