Westmoreland County Community College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands

Comparable Facts

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

Westmoreland County Community College is larger than Pennsylvania Highlands based on total student enrollment (3,990 students vs. 2,501 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Westmoreland County Community College is located in Youngwood, PA (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is in Johnstown, PA (Small Suburban setting).
• Westmoreland County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Westmoreland County Community College 14:1; Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 16:1.

Westmoreland County Community College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Westmoreland County Community College 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 Westmoreland County Community College than Pennsylvania Highlands ($4,247 vs. $5,519).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College are 20.8% lower than at Westmoreland County Community College ($5,700 vs. $7,200).
• Westmoreland County Community College is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania Highlands (about $684 more per year; $10,224.00 vs. $9,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8% higher at Westmoreland County Community College than at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (about $1,074 more per year; $14,424.00 vs. $13,350.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College than at Westmoreland County Community College (75% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Highlands Community College students is 5.7% larger than aid received by Westmoreland County Community College students ($6,791 vs. $6,422).

Westmoreland County Community College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Westmoreland County Community College 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 Westmoreland County Community College.

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

Westmoreland County Community College vs. Pennsylvania Highlands Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Westmoreland County Community College 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 Westmoreland County Community College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Pennsylvania Highlands graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,500 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates have a $1,182 lower median loan debt than Westmoreland County Community College graduates ($8,068 vs. $9,250).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania Highlands graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Westmoreland County Community College graduates ($83 vs. $95).
• More Pennsylvania Highlands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Westmoreland County Community College students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.