Montgomery County Community College vs. RACC

Comparable Facts

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

Montgomery County Community College is larger than RACC based on total student enrollment (9,278 students vs. 5,369 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Montgomery County Community College is located in Blue Bell, PA (Large Suburban setting); Reading Area Community College is in Reading, PA (Small City setting).
• Montgomery 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: Montgomery County Community College 19:1; Reading Area Community College 19:1.

Montgomery County Community College vs. RACC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Montgomery 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 Reading Area Community College than Montgomery County Community College ($9,089 vs. $10,126).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reading Area Community College are 25.9% lower than at Montgomery County Community College ($10,800 vs. $14,580).
• Montgomery County Community College is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RACC (about $660 more per year; $11,970.00 vs. $11,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.9% higher at Montgomery County Community College than at Reading Area Community College (about $4,740 more per year; $17,250.00 vs. $12,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reading Area Community College than at Montgomery County Community College (74% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Montgomery County Community College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Reading Area Community College students ($6,147 vs. $5,603).

Montgomery County Community College vs. RACC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Montgomery 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 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; RACC - Open admission.

Montgomery County Community College vs. RACC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Montgomery 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 Montgomery County Community College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than RACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reading Area Community College graduates have a $400 lower median loan debt than Montgomery County Community College graduates ($10,600 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, RACC graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Montgomery County Community College graduates ($109 vs. $113).
• More Montgomery County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RACC students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.