Lackawanna College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands

Comparable Facts

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

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is larger than Lackawanna College based on total student enrollment (2,501 students vs. 2,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lackawanna College is located in Scranton, PA (Small City setting); Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is in Johnstown, PA (Small Suburban setting).
• Lackawanna College is a private, non-profit 2-year institution. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lackawanna College 21:1; Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 16:1.

Lackawanna College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lackawanna College 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 Lackawanna College ($5,519 vs. $19,682).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are 52.9% lower than at Lackawanna College ($5,700 vs. $12,110).
• Lackawanna College is 92.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania Highlands (about $8,860 more per year; $18,400.00 vs. $9,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.8% higher at Lackawanna College than at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (about $5,050 more per year; $18,400.00 vs. $13,350.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lackawanna College than at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (87% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lackawanna College students is 35.1% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students ($9,173 vs. $6,791).

Lackawanna College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lackawanna College 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 Lackawanna College.

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

Lackawanna College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lackawanna College 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 Lackawanna College earn a median of about $6,300 more per year than Pennsylvania Highlands graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,300 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates have a $7,175 lower median loan debt than Lackawanna College graduates ($8,068 vs. $15,243).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lackawanna College graduates ($83 vs. $157).
• More Pennsylvania Highlands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lackawanna College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 37%)

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.