Northampton Community College vs. Community College of Philadelphia

Comparable Facts

Compare Northampton County Area Community College in Bethlehem, PA with Community College of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Community College of Philadelphia is larger than Northampton Community College based on total student enrollment (12,926 students vs. 8,810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Northampton Community College vs. Community College of Philadelphia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northampton Community College or Community College of Philadelphia? 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 Community College of Philadelphia than Northampton Community College ($11,148 vs. $11,682).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northampton County Area Community College are 0.3% lower than at Community College of Philadelphia ($10,770 vs. $10,800).
• Northampton County Area Community College is 30.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Community College of Philadelphia (about $2,682 more per year; $11,370.00 vs. $8,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.8% higher at Northampton Community College than at Community College of Philadelphia (about $2,526 more per year; $15,270.00 vs. $12,744.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Community College of Philadelphia than at Northampton County Area Community College (78% vs. 65%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Community College of Philadelphia students is 23.5% larger than aid received by Northampton County Area Community College students ($8,063 vs. $6,528).

Northampton Community College vs. Community College of Philadelphia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northampton Community College or Community College of Philadelphia? 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 Community College of Philadelphia and Northampton Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northampton Community College - Open admission; Community College of Philadelphia - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Northampton Community College Sep 4, 2026.

Northampton Community College vs. Community College of Philadelphia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northampton Community College and Community College of Philadelphia? 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 Community College of Philadelphia earn a median of about $300 more per year than Northampton Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Community College of Philadelphia graduates have a $2,250 lower median loan debt than Northampton Community College graduates ($10,750 vs. $13,000).
• Among borrowers, Community College of Philadelphia graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northampton Community College graduates ($111 vs. $134).
• More Northampton Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Community College of Philadelphia 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.