Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) vs Central Penn College
Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) and Central Penn College (CPC) are two distinct institutions of higher learning located in Pennsylvania, each offering unique educational opportunities. HACC, a public community college, boasts an open admissions policy, making it accessible to a wide range of students. In contrast, CPC, a private, four-year college, has a more selective admissions process. While HACC excels in providing affordable associate degrees and certificates, CPC specializes in bachelor's and master's degrees, catering to students seeking career-focused programs. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details regarding acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and goals.
|
![]() Central Penn College |
![]() Harrisburg Area Community College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Summerdale, Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 2 year |
Control/business model | Private (For Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 51.0% | 56.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 88.7% | Open Admission |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 247 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 219 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 81 | |
Yield rate | 37.0% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | Not required |
High school GPA | Required | N/A |
Recommendation letters | Not required | N/A |
High school transcript | Not required | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | N/A |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $27,164 |
In state:
$23,659
Out of state:
$25,182
|
Average net price | $17,061 | $12,147 |
Tuition | $17,784 |
In state:
$6,795
Out of state:
$8,168
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,346
Meal plan:
$2,070
|
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
96.0%
Average amount $8,947 |
95.0%
Average amount $4,168 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
84.0%
Average amount $5,648 |
45.0%
Average amount $4,826 |
Students taking out private loans |
12.0%
Average amount $10,517 |
3.0%
Average amount $7,267 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
872
Men 32.3% Women 67.7% |
14,023
Men 32.8% Women 67.2% |
Graduate students |
19
Men 15.8% Women 84.2% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 0.8% |
International students | N/A | 1.6% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | 396 | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Pennsylvania Maryland New Jersey Delaware Florida |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 44.4% | 15.5% |
Dropout rate | 28.6% | 50.2% |
Transferred out | 25.4% | 19.4% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Legal Professions and Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate's Degrees)
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
Legal Support Services (Associate's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.








































































































