Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) vs Temple University
Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) and Temple University are two distinct institutions of higher learning in Pennsylvania, each catering to different academic aspirations and student demographics. HACC, a community college with an open admissions policy, boasts a 100% acceptance rate, making it an accessible option for students seeking a foundation in various fields. Temple University, on the other hand, is a selective research university with an acceptance rate of 54%, attracting students with diverse academic backgrounds and career goals. While HACC excels in associate degrees and certificate programs, Temple University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degrees, including professional programs in law, medicine, and pharmacy. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including popular majors, student body composition, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your educational journey.
  | 
       | 
          
        
          
             
          
          Harrisburg Area Community College | 
          
        
          
             
          
          Temple University | 
      
|---|---|---|
    Overview | 
||
| Location | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 
| Campus setting | City: Small | City: Large | 
| College type | 2 year | 4 year | 
| Control/business model | Public | Public | 
| Calendar system | Semester | Semester | 
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate | 
| Students retention rate | 56.0% | 86.0% | 
    
       
      Common app member
    
   | 
      No | Yes | 
| Religious affiliation | ||
| 
       | 
  ||
    Admission | 
||
| Acceptance rate | Open Admission | 72.3% | 
| Application fees | 
                         
            Undergraduate:
            $55
           
          
            Graduate:
            $75
           
                   | 
  |
| SAT range | N/A | N/A | 
| ACT range | N/A | N/A | 
| Students submitting SAT score | ||
| Students submitting ACT score | ||
| Total number of applicants | 37,571 | |
| Total number of admissions given out | 27,176 | |
| Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,922 | |
| Yield rate | 18.1% | |
| Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | N/A | 
| High school GPA | N/A | Required | 
| Recommendation letters | N/A | Not required | 
| High school transcript | N/A | Not required | 
| English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | Required | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Tuition and Fees | 
||
| Sticker price | 
                         
            In state:
            $23,659
           
          
            Out of state:
            $25,182
           
                   | 
      
                         
            In state:
            $36,536
           
          
            Out of state:
            $49,760
           
                   | 
  
| Average net price | $12,147 | $23,224 | 
| Tuition | 
                         
            In state:
            $6,795
           
          
            Out of state:
            $8,168
           
                   | 
      
                         
            In state:
            $16,488
           
          
            Out of state:
            $29,712
           
                   | 
  
| Room & board | 
                         
            Room/dormitory:
            $8,636
           
          
            Meal plan:
            $4,508
           
                   | 
  |
| Available payment plans | 
                        
  | 
      
                        
  | 
  
| 
       | 
  ||
    Financial Aid | 
||
| 
    Students receiving financial aid
     (Grants & scholarships)  | 
      
              
          95.0%
        
         Average amount $4,168  | 
      
              
          85.0%
        
         Average amount $11,292  | 
  
| Students receiving federal student loan | 
              
          45.0%
        
         Average amount $4,826  | 
      
              
          58.0%
        
         Average amount $5,158  | 
  
| Students taking out private loans | 
              
          3.0%
        
         Average amount $7,267  | 
      
              
          13.0%
        
         Average amount $19,022  | 
  
| 
       | 
  ||
    Students and Campus | 
||
| Undergraduate students | 
              
          14,023
        
        
           Men 32.8% Women 67.2%  | 
      
              
          25,967
        
        
           Men 44.1% Women 55.9%  | 
  
| Graduate students | N/A | 
              
          9,659
        
        
           Men 40.0% Women 60.0%  | 
  
| Racial/ethnic diversity | 
              
           Low 
    
       | 
      
              
           Moderate 
    
    
       | 
  
| Out-of-state students | 0.8% | N/A | 
| International students | 1.6% | 5.4% | 
| Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large | 
| Dormitory capacity | N/A | 4,338 | 
| First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | No | 
| Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Pennsylvania Maryland New Jersey Delaware Florida | N/A | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Academics | 
||
| Popular study areas | 
              
  | 
      
              
  | 
  
| Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 13:1 | 
| Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Outcome | 
||
| Graduation rate | 15.5% | 75.3% | 
| Dropout rate | 50.2% | 10.2% | 
| Transferred out | 19.4% | 12.9% | 
| Alumni salary by major (Top 10) | 
               
              
                
                  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)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
      
               
              
                
                  Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Law (First Professional Degrees)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
  
    
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      Common app member