Montgomery County Community College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands

Comparable Facts

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

Montgomery County Community College is larger than Pennsylvania Highlands based on total student enrollment (9,278 students vs. 2,501 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Montgomery County Community College is located in Blue Bell, PA (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is in Johnstown, PA (Small Suburban setting).
• Montgomery County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Montgomery County Community College 19:1; Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 16:1.

Montgomery County Community College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Montgomery County Community 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 Montgomery County Community College ($5,519 vs. $10,126).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are 60.9% lower than at Montgomery County Community College ($5,700 vs. $14,580).
• Montgomery County Community College is 25.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania Highlands (about $2,430 more per year; $11,970.00 vs. $9,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.2% higher at Montgomery County Community College than at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (about $3,900 more per year; $17,250.00 vs. $13,350.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College than at Montgomery County Community College (75% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Montgomery County Community College students ($6,791 vs. $6,147).

Montgomery County Community College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Admissions comparison

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

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

Montgomery County Community College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Montgomery County Community 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 Montgomery County Community College earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than Pennsylvania Highlands graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates have a $2,932 lower median loan debt than Montgomery County Community College graduates ($8,068 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Montgomery County Community College graduates ($83 vs. $113).
• More Pennsylvania Highlands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Montgomery County Community College students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 44%)

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.