Public Bachelor's Strong 78/100

Hillsborough College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Tampa, Florida

About Hillsborough College

Hillsborough College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Tampa, Florida. It enrolls 21,472 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
15.7%
Net Price
$3,861
Median Earnings (10yr)
$40,782
Enrollment
21,472
Student : Faculty
23:1

Accreditor Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
78/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 45
Value 95
Affordability 74
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Hillsborough College.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Hillsborough College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $3,861 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$3,861
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
42%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$2,506
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,111
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,780
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,780
Books & Supplies
$1,560
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,900
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,900
Total Cost of Attendance
$9,924

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $3,839
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $4,395
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $5,505
  • Over $110,000
    $9,924

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,750
10% percentile
$3,250
25% percentile
$9,762
Median percentile
$12,353
75% percentile
$21,771
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,663 ↓ $3,099
No Pell $5,500 ↓ $4,262
Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $4,262
Independent students $9,275 ↓ $487
Female students $6,500 ↓ $3,262
Male students $5,500 ↓ $4,262
Pell recipients: 17.1% (1,670 students)No Pell: 14.1% (1,379 students)Dependent students: 14.1% (1,379 students)Independent students: 23.8% (2,325 students)Female students: 16.7% (1,630 students)Male students: 14.1% (1,379 students)Overall Median$9,762
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($9,762), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

16% of full-time students who enrolled at Hillsborough College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
16%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Hillsborough College earn a median of $40,782 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,782
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$33,000$35,000$37,000$40,000$42,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$35,200

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$39,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$34,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$39,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$43,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 16.3 pts across 6 years
46.3%1yr53.4%3yr61.3%5yr62.5%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Hillsborough College is home to 21,472 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students, 53% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
21,472
Part-Time
53%
First-Generation
46%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 39.7% 8,529
White 28.9% 6,212
Black 17.7% 3,798
Other 5.4% 1,162
Asian 3.5% 760
International 1.9% 408
Hispanic: 39.7% (8,529 students)White: 28.9% (6,212 students)Black: 17.7% (3,798 students)Other: 5.4% (1,162 students)Asian: 3.5% (760 students)International: 1.9% (408 students)Total21,472

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Hillsborough College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Tampa, Florida
Housing
Limited on-campus housing 420 beds
Adult Learners
29% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Hillsborough College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 49 distinct programs across 17 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program
11 Programs
7 Programs
4 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Hillsborough College is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).

Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,999
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$6.6M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,317
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

301 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 60 20% $83,566
Associate Professors 48 16% $76,065
Assistant Professors 109 36% $68,923
Instructors 79 26% $57,293
No Rank 5 2% $42,729

Pros & Cons of Hillsborough College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Hillsborough College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
  • No graduate programs offered at this institution
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Hillsborough College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hillsborough College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Hillsborough College.

How much does Hillsborough College cost?
The average net price after aid at Hillsborough College is $3,861 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Hillsborough College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,782 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,861 per year. That's roughly 10.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Hillsborough College known for?
Hillsborough College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Hillsborough College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Hillsborough College are $40,782, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Hillsborough College accredited?
Yes. Hillsborough College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Hillsborough College?
Hillsborough College enrolls 21,472 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Hillsborough College?
Hillsborough College graduates 16% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Hillsborough College a public or private college?
Hillsborough College is a Public institution.
Where is Hillsborough College located?
Hillsborough College is located in Tampa, Florida.
What programs does Hillsborough College offer?
Hillsborough College offers 49 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Hillsborough College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Hillsborough College is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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