Public
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Hazard, Kentucky
Hazard Community and Technical College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
2.98Avg GPA
$12,187Annual Cost
$29,868Grad Salary
37.3%Pell Grant
Avg GPA
2.98
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Avg Net Price
$3,376
Need-Based Aid
37.3% receive Pell
Hazard Community and Technical College, established in 1968 in Kentucky, specializes in mining technology, healthcare, and forestry. The campus features an underground mine training simulator.
HCTC is unranked but essential to Appalachia's workforce. Its programs address the region's unique energy, medical, and natural resource industries.
Hazard Community and Technical College Acceptance Rate
Hazard Community and Technical College runs an open-access admission policy. With a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.98 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.78 – 2.97
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.53
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Hazard Community and Technical College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Hazard Community and Technical College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Hazard Community and Technical College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Hazard Community and Technical College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Hazard Community and Technical College is 2.98. That makes admissions here moderately selective. Most admitted students carry a blend of A's, B's, and the occasional C.
A stronger SAT or ACT score can comfortably offset a GPA on the lower end of this range.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.18–3.38.Hazard Community and Technical College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.98 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.78 – 2.97
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.58 – 2.77
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.57
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Open-door general admission: 100% acceptance rate, no essay, ACT/SAT not required (Accuplacer used for placement instead)
- RN program: selective admission via Kaplan Admissions Exam (70%+ mean score preferred), fixed deadlines April 15 (fall) / October 15 (spring)
- Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship: tuition-free for approved high-demand programs, not income- or GPA-based to start, but requires 2.0+ GPA to keep it each term
- Multiple physical campuses (Hazard, Lees College/Jackson, Hindman, Hyden) with location-specific program offerings
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Hazard Community and Technical College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Hazard Community and Technical College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Hazard Community and Technical College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Hazard Community and Technical College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Hazard Community and Technical College Without SAT or ACT?
Hazard Community and Technical College's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Hazard Community and Technical College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into Hazard Community and Technical College is the easy part. What matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Don't over-invest in an application nobody will score
HCTC has an open-door policy - as long as you submit proof of high school completion (or GED) and required forms, you're in. Skip essay-polishing entirely and instead spend your prep time on the Accuplacer/ACT placement process, since your placement scores (not an application narrative) determine which math and English courses you start in.
Treat the RN/LPN application as a separate, hard-deadlined process
Nursing admission runs on its own selective cycle with fixed deadlines (April 15 for fall, October 15 for spring) and uses the Kaplan Admissions Exam, not the TEAS - preference goes to applicants scoring 70%+ on Kaplan and holding a 3.0+ GPA across 12+ prior college credits. Build your prerequisite schedule backward from those two dates, not around the general semester start.
Apply for Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship the moment you're admitted to an eligible program
WRKS covers full tuition (up to 60 credit hours) with no income or GPA requirement to qualify initially, for approved programs in Healthcare, Construction, Manufacturing/Logistics, Business Services/IT, and related high-demand sectors. It's a rolling but separate application from general admission - don't assume being accepted to HCTC automatically enrolls you in it.
Pick your campus deliberately, not just by convenience
HCTC spans Hazard, Lees College Campus in Jackson, Hindman, and Hyden - program availability and section scheduling vary by site. Confirm which physical campus actually runs your target program's clinicals or labs before committing to a location based only on distance from home.
Expert Insight:
Students often assume HCTC's 100% general acceptance rate extends to its health science programs - it doesn't. Nursing admission is genuinely competitive and ranked by Kaplan score and prerequisite GPA; showing up after the April 15/October 15 deadline, or assuming general admission guarantees a nursing seat, is the most common way applicants lose a full cycle.
Hazard Community and Technical College Profile
Full Name
Hazard Community and Technical College
City
Hazard
State
Kentucky
ZIP Code
41701-2402
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Hazard Community and Technical College Degree Worth It?
At $12,187/year against a $29,868 median graduate salary, Hazard Community and Technical College is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $28,300, with a graduate unemployment rate of 5.1%.
How much does a degree from Hazard Community and Technical College Cost?
The sticker price is $12,187/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $3,376.
37.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 11.5% take federal loans at Hazard Community and Technical College. File your FAFSA early and list Hazard Community and Technical College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Hazard Community and Technical College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $29,868. That's somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Degree Programs at Hazard Community and Technical College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Hazard Community and Technical College Admissions
Median earnings for Hazard Community and Technical College graduates sit around $29,868 a year.
At about $12,187 a year, Hazard Community and Technical College is on the more affordable end.
About 37.3% receive a Pell Grant at Hazard Community and Technical College. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
Admitted students at Hazard Community and Technical College average a 2.98 GPA.
Hazard Community and Technical College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 2.68 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.58, Hazard Community and Technical College becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
Hazard Community and Technical College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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