Community College of Philadelphia vs. PIA

Comparable Facts

Compare Community College of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia is larger than PIA based on total student enrollment (12,926 students vs. 663 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Community College of Philadelphia is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is in West Mifflin, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Community College of Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 15:1; Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics 15:1.

Community College of Philadelphia vs. PIA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Community College of Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia than PIA ($11,148 vs. $30,118).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Community College of Philadelphia are 15.8% lower than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics ($10,800 vs. $12,826).
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is 115.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Community College of Philadelphia (about $10,042 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $8,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47% higher at PIA than at Community College of Philadelphia (about $5,986 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $12,744.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Community College of Philadelphia than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (78% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Community College of Philadelphia students is 13.9% larger than aid received by Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics students ($8,063 vs. $7,080).

Community College of Philadelphia vs. PIA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Community College of Philadelphia 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 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; PIA - Open admission.

Community College of Philadelphia vs. PIA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Community College of Philadelphia 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 $22,600 more per year than Community College of Philadelphia graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $35,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Community College of Philadelphia graduates have a $3,748 lower median loan debt than PIA graduates ($10,750 vs. $14,498).
• Among borrowers, Community College of Philadelphia graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PIA graduates ($111 vs. $149).
• More PIA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Community College of Philadelphia students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.