ASPIRA City College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands

Comparable Facts

Compare ASPIRA City College in Philadelphia, 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 ASPIRA City College based on total student enrollment (2,501 students vs. 26 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• ASPIRA City College is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is in Johnstown, PA (Small Suburban setting).
• ASPIRA City 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: ASPIRA City College 7:1; Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 16:1.

ASPIRA City College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASPIRA City 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 ASPIRA City College ($5,519 vs. $13,671).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are 43.5% lower than at ASPIRA City College ($5,700 vs. $10,080).
• ASPIRA City College is 27.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania Highlands (about $2,607 more per year; $12,147.00 vs. $9,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.9% higher at Pennsylvania Highlands than at ASPIRA City College (about $1,203 more per year; $13,350.00 vs. $12,147.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at ASPIRA City College than at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (100% vs. 75%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students is 48.2% larger than aid received by ASPIRA City College students ($6,791 vs. $4,581).

ASPIRA City College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASPIRA City 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 ASPIRA City College.

• Pennsylvania Highlands Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASPIRA City College - Test-free; Pennsylvania Highlands - Open admission.

ASPIRA City College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASPIRA City 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 Pennsylvania Highlands Community College earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than ASPIRA City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,000 vs. $23,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates have a $4,432 lower median loan debt than ASPIRA City College graduates ($8,068 vs. $12,500).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASPIRA City College graduates ($83 vs. $129).
• More Pennsylvania Highlands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASPIRA City College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 20%)

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.