Luzerne County Community College vs. RACC

Comparable Facts

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

Reading Area Community College is larger than Luzerne County Community College based on total student enrollment (5,369 students vs. 4,460 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Luzerne County Community College vs. RACC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Luzerne County Community College 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 Luzerne County Community College than RACC ($8,491 vs. $9,089).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Luzerne County Community College are 25% lower than at Reading Area Community College ($8,100 vs. $10,800).
• Luzerne County Community College is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RACC (about $120 more per year; $11,430.00 vs. $11,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30% higher at Luzerne County Community College than at Reading Area Community College (about $3,750 more per year; $16,260.00 vs. $12,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reading Area Community College than at Luzerne County Community College (74% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Luzerne County Community College students is 6.3% larger than aid received by Reading Area Community College students ($5,958 vs. $5,603).

Luzerne County Community College vs. RACC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Luzerne County Community College 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 Luzerne County Community College.

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

Luzerne County Community College vs. RACC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Luzerne County Community College 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 Luzerne County Community College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than RACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,500 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reading Area Community College graduates have a $148 lower median loan debt than Luzerne County Community College graduates ($10,600 vs. $10,748).
• Among borrowers, RACC graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Luzerne County Community College graduates ($109 vs. $111).
• More Luzerne County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RACC 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.