PIA vs. Pennsylvania Highlands

Comparable Facts

Compare Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, 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 PIA based on total student enrollment (2,501 students vs. 663 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is located in West Mifflin, PA (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is in Johnstown, PA (Small Suburban setting).
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is a private, non-profit 2-year institution. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics 15:1; Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 16:1.

PIA vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PIA 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 PIA ($5,519 vs. $30,118).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are 55.6% lower than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics ($5,700 vs. $12,826).
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is 96.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania Highlands (about $9,190 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $9,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.3% higher at PIA than at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (about $5,380 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $13,350.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (75% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics students is 4.3% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students ($7,080 vs. $6,791).

PIA vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PIA 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 PIA.

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

PIA vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PIA 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 Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics earn a median of about $29,200 more per year than Pennsylvania Highlands graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates have a $6,430 lower median loan debt than PIA graduates ($8,068 vs. $14,498).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PIA graduates ($83 vs. $149).
• More PIA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania Highlands students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 51%)

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.