CCAC vs. Pennsylvania Highlands

Comparable Facts

Compare Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, PA with Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in Johnstown, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Community College of Allegheny County is larger than Pennsylvania Highlands based on total student enrollment (10,609 students vs. 2,501 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Community College of Allegheny County is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is in Johnstown, PA (Small Suburban setting).
• Community College of Allegheny County is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Community College of Allegheny County 16:1; Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 16:1.

CCAC vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCAC or Pennsylvania Highlands? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College than CCAC ($5,519 vs. $13,196).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are 52.5% lower than at Community College of Allegheny County ($5,700 vs. $12,000).
• Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CCAC (about $737 more per year; $9,540.00 vs. $8,803.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.1% higher at Pennsylvania Highlands than at Community College of Allegheny County (about $767 more per year; $13,350.00 vs. $12,583.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College than at Community College of Allegheny County (75% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students is 4.2% larger than aid received by Community College of Allegheny County students ($6,791 vs. $6,516).

CCAC vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCAC or Pennsylvania Highlands? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pennsylvania Highlands and CCAC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCAC - Open admission; Pennsylvania Highlands - Open admission.

CCAC vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCAC and Pennsylvania Highlands? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Community College of Allegheny County earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Pennsylvania Highlands graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,800 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates have a $1,903 lower median loan debt than CCAC graduates ($8,068 vs. $9,971).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCAC graduates ($83 vs. $103).
• More Pennsylvania Highlands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCAC students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 41%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.