As someone who helps individuals understand the cost of higher education, it’s very important to understand the role community college can play. Community college is significantly cheaper than most colleges & universities. On the whole, you may notice it is less than half most public colleges & universities. One of the main reasons is the lack of big campus infrastructure, and extracurricular programs that increase cost. In other words, it removes some of the “fluff” that other schools have. That said, it’s a different experience than four-year colleges & universities. As you’ll discover, there is no shortage of community colleges in PA.
I think a strategy that can (and in many cases, should) be utilized is the transfer credit. For many, paying for 4 years of schooling is simply unaffordable. One way to greatly save on college costs is to complete general courses at community college. That said, it’s important to make sure that the credits actually do transfer. Schools will have articulation agreements to accept credits, and you should do your research. This article does a great job explaining the process and things to be aware of. Below, you’ll see a list of the community colleges in PA. Feel free to click the links and check them out!
Bucks County Community College
Location: Newtown, PA (Bucks County)
Size: 6225
Butler County Community College
Location: Butler, PA (Butler County)
Size: 3600
Community College of Allegheny County
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Allegheny County)
Size: 12,000
Community College of Beaver County
Location: Monaca, PA (Beaver County)
Size: 6,000
Community College of Philadelphia
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Size: 9,000
Delaware County Community College
Location: 11,300
Size: Media, PA
Erie County Community College
Location: Erie, PA (Erie County)
Size: 8,400
Harrisburg Area Community College
Location: Harrisburg, PA (Dauphin County)
Size: 12,500
Lehigh Carbon Community College
Location: Schnecksville, PA (Lehigh County)
Size: 6,200
Luzerne County Community College
Location: Nanticoke, PA
Size: 6,800
Montgomery County Community College
Location: Blue Bell, PA (Montgomery County)
Size: 13,000
Northampton County Area Community College
Location: Bethlehem, PA
Size: 9,000
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
Location: Johnstown, PA (Cambria County)
Size: 3,000
Reading Area Community College
Location: Reading, PA (Berks County)
Size: 5000
Westmoreland County Community College
Location: Youngwood, PA (Westmoreland County)
Size: 5,000
