RACC vs. Laurel Technical Institute

Comparable Facts

Compare Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA with Laurel Technical Institute in Hermitage, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Reading Area Community College is larger than Laurel Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (5,369 students vs. 163 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Reading Area Community College is located in Reading, PA (Small City setting); Laurel Technical Institute is in Hermitage, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Reading Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Laurel Technical Institute is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Reading Area Community College 19:1; Laurel Technical Institute 9:1.

RACC vs. Laurel Technical Institute Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RACC or Laurel Technical Institute? 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 Laurel Technical Institute than RACC ($6,914 vs. $9,089).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laurel Technical Institute are 70% lower than at Reading Area Community College ($3,240 vs. $10,800).
• Laurel Technical Institute is 18.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than RACC (about $2,121 more per year; $13,431.00 vs. $11,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at Laurel Technical Institute than at Reading Area Community College (about $921 more per year; $13,431.00 vs. $12,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laurel Technical Institute than at Reading Area Community College (93% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Laurel Technical Institute students is 39.3% larger than aid received by Reading Area Community College students ($7,804 vs. $5,603).

RACC vs. Laurel Technical Institute Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RACC or Laurel Technical Institute? 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 Laurel Technical Institute and RACC.

• Reading Area Community College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RACC - Open admission; Laurel Technical Institute - Test-free.

RACC vs. Laurel Technical Institute Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RACC and Laurel Technical Institute? 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 Reading Area Community College earn a median of about $12,600 more per year than Laurel Technical Institute graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,200 vs. $20,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reading Area Community College graduates have a $1,920 lower median loan debt than Laurel Technical Institute graduates ($10,600 vs. $12,520).
• Among borrowers, RACC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Laurel Technical Institute graduates ($109 vs. $129).
• More RACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laurel Technical Institute students, three years after graduation. (33% vs. 32%)

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.