Community College of Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania Highlands

Comparable Facts

Compare Community College of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia is larger than Pennsylvania Highlands based on total student enrollment (12,926 students vs. 2,501 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Community College of Philadelphia is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is in Johnstown, PA (Small Suburban setting).
• Community College of Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 15:1; Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 16:1.

Community College of Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Community College of Philadelphia 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 Community College of Philadelphia ($5,519 vs. $11,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are 47.2% lower than at Community College of Philadelphia ($5,700 vs. $10,800).
• Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Community College of Philadelphia (about $852 more per year; $9,540.00 vs. $8,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at Pennsylvania Highlands than at Community College of Philadelphia (about $606 more per year; $13,350.00 vs. $12,744.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Community College of Philadelphia than at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (78% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Community College of Philadelphia students is 18.7% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students ($8,063 vs. $6,791).

Community College of Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Community College of Philadelphia 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 Community College of Philadelphia.

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

Community College of Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Community College of Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Pennsylvania Highlands graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates have a $2,682 lower median loan debt than Community College of Philadelphia graduates ($8,068 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Community College of Philadelphia graduates ($83 vs. $111).
• More Pennsylvania Highlands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Community College of Philadelphia students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 33%)

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.