RACC vs. Westmoreland County Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA with Westmoreland County Community College in Youngwood, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Reading Area Community College is larger than Westmoreland County Community College based on total student enrollment (5,369 students vs. 3,990 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Reading Area Community College is located in Reading, PA (Small City setting); Westmoreland County Community College is in Youngwood, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Reading Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Westmoreland County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Reading Area Community College 19:1; Westmoreland County Community College 14:1.

RACC vs. Westmoreland County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RACC 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 RACC ($4,247 vs. $9,089).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westmoreland County Community College are 33.3% lower than at Reading Area Community College ($7,200 vs. $10,800).
• Reading Area Community College is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Westmoreland County Community College (about $1,086 more per year; $11,310.00 vs. $10,224.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.3% higher at Westmoreland County Community College than at Reading Area Community College (about $1,914 more per year; $14,424.00 vs. $12,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reading Area Community College than at Westmoreland County Community College (74% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westmoreland County Community College students is 14.6% larger than aid received by Reading Area Community College students ($6,422 vs. $5,603).

RACC vs. Westmoreland County Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RACC 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 RACC.

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

RACC vs. Westmoreland County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RACC 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 Westmoreland County Community College earn a median of about $300 more per year than RACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,500 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Westmoreland County Community College graduates have a $1,350 lower median loan debt than RACC graduates ($9,250 vs. $10,600).
• Among borrowers, Westmoreland County Community College graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RACC graduates ($95 vs. $109).
• More Westmoreland County Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RACC students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.