PIA vs. RACC

Comparable Facts

Compare Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics in West Mifflin, PA with Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Reading Area Community College is larger than PIA based on total student enrollment (5,369 students vs. 663 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is located in West Mifflin, PA (Large Suburban setting); Reading Area Community College is in Reading, PA (Small City setting).
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is a private, non-profit 2-year institution. Reading Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics 15:1; Reading Area Community College 19:1.

PIA vs. RACC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PIA 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 PIA ($9,089 vs. $30,118).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reading Area Community College are 15.8% lower than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics ($10,800 vs. $12,826).
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is 65.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than RACC (about $7,420 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $11,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.7% higher at PIA than at Reading Area Community College (about $6,220 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $12,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reading Area Community College than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (74% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics students is 26.4% larger than aid received by Reading Area Community College students ($7,080 vs. $5,603).

PIA vs. RACC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PIA 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 PIA.

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

PIA vs. RACC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PIA 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 Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics earn a median of about $25,000 more per year than RACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reading Area Community College graduates have a $3,898 lower median loan debt than PIA graduates ($10,600 vs. $14,498).
• Among borrowers, RACC graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PIA graduates ($109 vs. $149).
• More PIA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RACC students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.