Community College of Philadelphia vs. RACC

Comparable Facts

Compare Community College of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA with Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Community College of Philadelphia is larger than RACC based on total student enrollment (12,926 students vs. 5,369 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Community College of Philadelphia is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Reading Area Community College is in Reading, PA (Small City setting).
• Community College of Philadelphia is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Reading Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Community College of Philadelphia 15:1; Reading Area Community College 19:1.

Community College of Philadelphia vs. RACC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Community College of Philadelphia or RACC? 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 Reading Area Community College than Community College of Philadelphia ($9,089 vs. $11,148).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Community College of Philadelphia and RACC ($10,800).
• Reading Area Community College is 30.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Community College of Philadelphia (about $2,622 more per year; $11,310.00 vs. $8,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Community College of Philadelphia than at Reading Area Community College (about $234 more per year; $12,744.00 vs. $12,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Community College of Philadelphia than at Reading Area Community College (78% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Community College of Philadelphia students is 43.9% larger than aid received by Reading Area Community College students ($8,063 vs. $5,603).

Community College of Philadelphia vs. RACC Admissions comparison

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

Community College of Philadelphia vs. RACC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Community College of Philadelphia and RACC? 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 $2,400 more per year than RACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reading Area Community College graduates have a $150 lower median loan debt than Community College of Philadelphia graduates ($10,600 vs. $10,750).
• Among borrowers, RACC graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Community College of Philadelphia graduates ($109 vs. $111).
• More Community College of Philadelphia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RACC students, three years after graduation. (33% 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.