Community colleges in Pennsylvania offer a variety of associate degrees in different fields of study. The state of Pennsylvania is home to top-tier colleges including two-year colleges offering associate degrees in business, nursing, computer science, culinary arts, engineering, etc.
Graduates of Pennsylvania’s community colleges can transfer to a four-year college in the state. Attending a community college is less expensive and it also provides the opportunity to pursue a degree at a four-year university. Additionally, graduates from Pennsylvania’s community colleges are educated and trained to excel in the state’s workforce.
You can work your way up to securing lucrative jobs across different sectors. Just so you know, Pennsylvania’s community college graduates also secure lucrative regional jobs. In a moment, we will be showing you the best 20 community colleges in Pennsylvania.
Why Study at Pennsylvania Institutions?
Whether you want to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, there are several reasons you should study in Pennsylvania.
Educational Opportunities
Pennsylvania is a state where you will find top public and private research institutions. Although the tuition and fees at Pennsylvania’s public colleges are higher than the national average, attending one of the state’s institutions is a good investment.
The Keystone State prioritizes optimizing educational opportunities and that has been rewarding over time.
According to Bestcolleges.com, former governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf raised almost $1.5 billion in public funding for pre-K-through-college programs within a few years.
The former governor of the state also invested $70 million in Pennsylvania’s workforce through the PAsmart Initiative.
Cost of Living
Although tuition and fees at public colleges in the state are above the national average, the cost of living in Pennsylvania is not that expensive.
Pennsylvania’s cost of living is lower compared to neighbouring states like New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York.
It’s a relief knowing that you are attending college in a state with a low cost of living.
Community college students in Pennsylvania benefit from this. It means they get to enjoy a high quality of life while in college.
Residents of Pennsylvania pay less for healthcare, utilities, and entertainment. This makes Pennsylvania one of the preferred states for students to study.
Also Read: 10 Best Universities and Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
List of the Best 20 Community Colleges in Pennsylvania
- Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
- Bucks County Community College
- Montgomery County Community College
- Community College of Beaver County
- Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
- Lehigh Carbon Community College
- Northampton County Area Community College
- Luzerne County Community College
- Delaware County Community College
- Eastern Center for Arts and Technology
- Reading Area Community College
- Westmoreland County Community College
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Harrisburg Area Community College
- Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
- Great Johnstown Career and Technology Center
- Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technology Center
- Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
- Community College of Allegheny County
- Fayette County Career and Technical Institute- Practical Nursing Program
While cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are where the state’s top-tier institutions are located, the colleges on this list are located across different counties.
Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania
Let’s explore these public colleges funded by tax dollars.
#1. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
- Location: Lancaster
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a two-year community college with an enrolment of over 1,000 students.
This community college was established in 1905 with the aim to serve indigent students. The technical college offers 22 academic programs to its over 1,000 undergraduate students.
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology offers an associate degree in business administration, automotive technology, architectural technology, and electrical technology.
Being a college that was established to assist economically disadvantaged individuals, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology provides financial aid to its students in the form of direct loans and Pell grants.
Find out more about this community college by visiting its official website.
#2. Bucks County Community College
- Location: Newtown
Bucks County Community College is a public institution that offers about 80 associate degree programs and certificates.
The community college was recently ranked as the #1 online community college in Pennsylvania. Bucks County Community College is also an institution that provides continuing education, as well as workplace training.
This college offers transfer-associate degree programs in fields like business, social sciences, arts, health sciences, and STEM fields.
Bucks County Community College also provided occupational majors in areas like nursing, accounting, event planning, and emergency management.
#3. Montgomery County Community College
- Location: Blue Bell
Montgomery County Community College is a two-year public institution with an enrolment of 2,946 undergraduate students.
Montco offers over 10 associate degree and certificate programs. Some of the popular majors offered at Montco include liberal arts and humanities, nursing, and business.
The college’s associate degree is designed to prepare graduates to enter the workforce, as well as transfer to a four-year institution.
Montgomery County Community College offers an associate degree in business, creative arts, hospitality, engineering and technology, health, culinary arts, education, public and social services, and science.
Also Read The Pennsylvania State University Acceptance Rate, Admission, SAT, ACT, Tuition, Rankings
#4. Community College of Beaver County
- Location: Monaca
Community College of Beaver County is a small-sized institution with an enrolment of over 2,000 undergraduate students. CC Beaver County’s acceptance rate is 100%.
CC Beaver County offers a variety of associate degree programs in different fields of study. Some of the popular majors offered at CC Beaver County are liberal arts and humanities, nursing, and business.
Graduates from this community college earn a starting salary of $28,600. They graduate from the Community College of Beaver County with an associate degree in computer science, business administration, engineering, biological sciences, and communication.
#5. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
- Location: Johnstown
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a two-year public institution with an enrolment of over 2,000 undergraduate students.
This community college is welcoming and will accept high schoolers with their high school diploma or GED.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is one of the best colleges in the state that offer an associate degree in marketing managing, business management, computer science, culinary arts, and entrepreneurship.
#6. Lehigh Carbon Community College
- Location: Schnecksville
Lehigh Carbon Community College is a small-sized public institution in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. The overall enrolment at this community college is over 2,000 undergraduate students.
Popular majors available at Lehigh Carbon include liberal arts and humanities, nursing, and business.
Lehigh Carbon Community College offers an associate in aviation science, engineering, Pennsylvania paralegal studies, computer information systems, and music/sound production.
#7. Northampton County Community College
- Location: Bethlehem
Northampton County Community College is a two-year public institution with a small student body. NCC is a small-sized public college with an enrolment of over 3,000 undergraduate students.
This community college was established in 1967 as Northampton County Area Community College.
Popular majors at NCC include liberal arts and humanities, nursing, business, child care provider, criminal justice and safety studies, medical sectary, and psychology.
#8. Luzerne County Community College
- Location: Nanticoke
Luzerne County Community College is a two-year public institution with an enrolment of over 4,000 undergraduate students. LCCC operates other satellite campuses where it provides a variety of associate degree programs.
LCCC offers applied technology programs that train students in areas like nanotechnology manufacturing, mechatronics, and sustainable energy technology.
Popular majors at Luzerne County Community College include liberal arts and humanities, business, criminal justice and corrections, child care provider, dental hygiene, information science, emergency medical technician (EMT paramedics), nursing, and surgical technologist.
#9. Delaware County Community College
- Location: Media
Delaware County Community College offers a variety of associate degree programs. At DCCC, you can choose from any of the 53 associate degrees or 43 certificate programs offered through its nine different locations.
DCCC has campuses and facilities across Delaware and Chester Counties. It also offers 17 transfer degrees
Delaware County Community College offers degree programs in areas like computer science, education, paramedics, engineering, health studies, medical coding & billing, surgical technology, and culinary arts.
Also Read: University of Pennsylvania Acceptance Rate, Admissions, SAT/ACT, GPA, Tuition
#10. Eastern Center for Arts and Technology
- Location: Willow Grove
Academic programs offered at Eastern Arts and Technology include automotive technology, construction technology, cosmetology, culinary arts, electrical technology, robotics and automotive technology, and veterinary science.
This community college also provides scholarships and award opportunities to its graduating students.
#11. Reading Area Community College
- Location: Reading
Reading Area Community College is among the best colleges in Pennsylvania. The overall enrolment at this two-year public college is over 4,000 undergraduate students.
Its popular majors include liberal arts and humanities, nursing, electrical engineering technician, health service preparatory studies, Licensed Practical Nursing Training (LPN), and physical sciences.
#12. Westmoreland County Community College
- Location: Youngwood
Westmoreland County Community College is a two-year public institution with an acceptance rate of 100%.
WCCC offers a variety of vocational and transfer programs. Its vocational programs are designed to prepare students to excel in various sectors. WCCC graduates go on to earn a starting salary of $26,400.
This Pennsylvanian community college offers online certificate programs and online associate programs. Popular majors at WCC include liberal arts and humanities, business, nursing, welding, dental assisting, dental hygiene, and electrical engineering technician.
#13. Community College of Pennsylvania
- Location: Philadelphia
This is a two-year public college that four online associate programs and one online certificate program. Over 4,-000 undergraduate students are enrolled at CCP.
CCP offers associate degree programs in biology, paralegal studies, digital forensics, psychology, computer information system, criminal justice and corrections, business, communications, and human service.
#14. Harrisburg Area Community College
- Location: Harrisburg
Harrisburg Area Community College is a two-year public institution with an overall emolument of more than 4,000 undergraduate students.
HACC offers a variety of online associate programs and certificate programs. You can choose from any of the 17 online associate degree programs or 12 online certificate programs offered at HACC.
Popular majors at HACC include liberal arts and humanities, social science research methods, licensed practical nursing training, healthcare management, business, and electrician.
#15. Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
- Location: Willow Street, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center is a small public college with just over 200 undergraduate students.
This is one of the best community colleges in Pennsylvania where students are provided with several options. At Lancaster County CTC, students can earn a degree in licensed practical nursing training, welding, automotive mechanics, dental assisting, medical assisting, plumbing, and veterinary technician and assistant.
Also Read: How to Pass Nursing School Exams
#16. Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center
- Location: Johnstown
This is a public community college with just 149 undergraduate students. Despite the number at Greater Johnstown CTC, it offers a variety of degree programs to prepare students to enter the workforce.
Popular majors at Greater Johnstown CTC include licensed practical nursing training, welding, construction and heavy equipment operations, electrician, HVAC and refrigeration engineering technician, automotive mechanics, and cosmetology.
#17. Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technology Center – Practical Nursing
- Location: Wilkes Barre
This is a two-year community college with a small student enrolment. Unlike other community colleges on this list, this college has an acceptance rate of 45%.
Licensed practical nursing training is the only major offered at Wilkes-Barre Area CTC.
#18. Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology
- Location: Pleasant
With just 92 undergraduate students, Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology offers a variety of programs.
Popular majors at CPI include licensed practical nursing training, medical assisting, welding, cosmetology, diesel mechanic, dental assisting, and engineering technician.
#19. Community College of Allegheny County
- Location: Pittsburgh
Community College of Allegheny County is a public institution with an enrolment of 4,000 undergraduate students.
CCAC offers just one online certificate program. Students can also choose to earn associate degree programs in nursing, liberal arts and humanities, carpentry, business, and criminal justice and corrections.
Also Read: 20 Best Dental Hygienist Schools in New Jersey
#20. Fayette County Career and Technical Institute- Practical Nursing Program
- Location: Uniontown
Fayette County Career and Technical Institute- Practical Nursing is a small public institution that only offers licensed practical nursing training.
Graduates of FCCTI Practical Nursing go on to excel in the medical field with a starting salary of $37,800.
Conclusion
Generally, there are many community colleges scattered across Pennsylvania. We listed the best 20 community colleges in the state and available academic programs.
Attending a two-year college is affordable and it also offers an opportunity to pursue a degree at a four-year college.
