CCAC vs. PIA

Comparable Facts

Compare Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, PA with Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Community College of Allegheny County is larger than PIA based on total student enrollment (10,609 students vs. 663 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Community College of Allegheny County is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is in West Mifflin, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Community College of Allegheny County is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is a private, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Community College of Allegheny County 16:1; Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics 15:1.

CCAC vs. PIA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCAC or PIA? 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 Community College of Allegheny County than PIA ($13,196 vs. $30,118).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Community College of Allegheny County are 6.4% lower than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics ($12,000 vs. $12,826).
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is 112.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than CCAC (about $9,927 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $8,803.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.9% higher at PIA than at Community College of Allegheny County (about $6,147 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $12,583.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics than at Community College of Allegheny County (54% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics students is 8.7% larger than aid received by Community College of Allegheny County students ($7,080 vs. $6,516).

CCAC vs. PIA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCAC or PIA? 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 PIA 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; PIA - Open admission.

CCAC vs. PIA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCAC and PIA? 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 Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics earn a median of about $23,400 more per year than CCAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $34,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Community College of Allegheny County graduates have a $4,527 lower median loan debt than PIA graduates ($9,971 vs. $14,498).
• Among borrowers, CCAC graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PIA graduates ($103 vs. $149).
• More PIA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCAC students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.