PIA vs. Westmoreland County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Westmoreland County Community College is larger than PIA based on total student enrollment (3,990 students vs. 663 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is located in West Mifflin, PA (Large Suburban setting); Westmoreland County Community College is in Youngwood, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is a private, non-profit 2-year institution. Westmoreland County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics 15:1; Westmoreland County Community College 14:1.

PIA vs. Westmoreland County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PIA or Westmoreland County Community College? 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 Westmoreland County Community College than PIA ($4,247 vs. $30,118).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westmoreland County Community College are 43.9% lower than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics ($7,200 vs. $12,826).
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is 83.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Westmoreland County Community College (about $8,506 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $10,224.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.9% higher at PIA than at Westmoreland County Community College (about $4,306 more per year; $18,730.00 vs. $14,424.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westmoreland County Community College than at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (64% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics students is 10.2% larger than aid received by Westmoreland County Community College students ($7,080 vs. $6,422).

PIA vs. Westmoreland County Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PIA or Westmoreland County Community College? 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 Westmoreland County Community College 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; Westmoreland County Community College - Open admission.

PIA vs. Westmoreland County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PIA and Westmoreland County Community College? 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 $24,700 more per year than Westmoreland County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,200 vs. $33,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Westmoreland County Community College graduates have a $5,248 lower median loan debt than PIA graduates ($9,250 vs. $14,498).
• Among borrowers, Westmoreland County Community College graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PIA graduates ($95 vs. $149).
• More PIA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Westmoreland County Community College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 47%)

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.