HCC vs. FGCU

Hillsborough Community College and Florida Gulf Coast University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Hillsborough Community College
Florida Gulf Coast University

At a glance

  • Cheaper after aid: HCC. Average net price is $3,333 vs $12,863 at FGCU.
  • Earnings 10 years out: HCC $35,600 vs FGCU $45,200 (median).
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Key differences

Hillsborough Community College Florida Gulf Coast University
Acceptance rate
FGCU more selective
HCC-
FGCU63.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
FGCU higher
HCC-
FGCU1040-1200
Average net price
HCC $9,530 less
HCC$3,333
FGCU$12,863
In-state tuition
HCC $3,612 less
HCC$2,506
FGCU$6,118
Out-of-state tuition
HCC $16,051 less
HCC$9,111
FGCU$25,162
Graduation rate
FGCU +45 pts
HCC-
FGCU45%
Median earnings (10 years)
FGCU +$9,600
HCC$35,600
FGCU$45,200

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

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  • Applied
  • HCC -
  • FGCU 20,422
  • Admitted
  • HCC -
  • FGCU 12,956
  • Acceptance rate
  • HCC Open
  • FGCU 63.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • HCC Open
  • FGCU 20.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HCC
  • FGCU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • HCC
  • FGCU 22
  • Average high school GPA
  • HCC -
  • FGCU 4.0
  • Typical high school grades
  • HCC -
  • FGCU A/A+
  • Admissions standards
  • HCC Unavailable
  • FGCU Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • HCC
  • FGCU Low
  • SAT range
  • HCC
  • FGCU 1040-1200
  • ACT range
  • HCC
  • FGCU 20-25
  • Submit test scores
  • HCC Open admission
  • FGCU Required
  • Application deadline
  • HCC
  • FGCU Nov 1, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • HCC $2,506
  • FGCU $6,118
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • HCC $9,111
  • FGCU $25,162
  • Room & board
  • HCC $12,780
  • FGCU $11,107
  • Average net price
  • HCC $3,333
  • FGCU $12,863
  • Average grant aid
  • HCC $6,797
  • FGCU $8,515
  • % receiving grant aid
  • HCC 63%
  • FGCU 62%
  • Graduation rate
  • HCC -
  • FGCU 45%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • HCC $35,600
  • FGCU $45,200
  • Making student loan payments
  • HCC 34%
  • FGCU 59%
  • Median student loan debt
  • HCC $9,500
  • FGCU $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • HCC $98
  • FGCU $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • HCC 23:1
  • FGCU 20:1
  • Popular majors
  • HCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (13%)
    • Business (4%)
    • Education (4%)
  • FGCU
    • Business (25%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (14%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Location
  • HCC Tampa, FL
  • FGCU Fort Myers, FL
  • Setting
  • HCC Large City
  • FGCU Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • HCC 21,483
  • FGCU 16,612
  • Type
  • HCC Public 2 Year
  • FGCU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • HCC
  • FGCU #757

Comparable Facts

Compare Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, FL with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Hillsborough Community College is larger than FGCU based on total student enrollment (21,483 students vs. 16,612 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Hillsborough Community College is located in Tampa, FL (Large City setting); Florida Gulf Coast University is in Fort Myers, FL (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Hillsborough Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Hillsborough Community College 23:1; Florida Gulf Coast University 20:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Gulf Coast University are 13.1% lower than at Hillsborough Community College ($11,107 vs. $12,780).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 176.2% higher at FGCU than at Hillsborough Community College (about $16,051 more per year; $25,162 vs. $9,111).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hillsborough Community College than at Florida Gulf Coast University (63% vs. 62%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Gulf Coast University students is 25.3% larger than aid received by Hillsborough Community College students ($8,515 vs. $6,797).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are open admission at HCC, required at FGCU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: FGCU Nov 1, 2026.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Hillsborough Community College graduates have a $10,000 lower median loan debt than FGCU graduates ($9,500 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, HCC graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FGCU graduates ($98 vs. $201).
  • More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HCC students, three years after graduation (59% vs. 34%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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