Best Community Colleges in Pennsylvania of 2023

Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA, is the best community college in Pennsylvania due to its affordability, great student support services, and wide range of academic majors. Students can choose from a variety of degree and certificate programs that cover subjects like art, dance, fine arts, accounting, culinary arts, public health, and English. At $165 per credit hour, the school offers competitive in-state tuition. Students can get help paying for school by applying for financial aid and scholarships and participating in work-study programs. For students interested in pursuing four-year degrees, Bucks County Community College has transfer agreements with many four-year universities, including Bellevue University, Drexel University, and Rutgers University.

Individuals interested in pursuing a career in the culinary arts should consider enrolling at Montgomery County Community College. The Culinary Arts Institute of Montgomery County Community College offers culinary arts and baking and pastry programs. These programs are available during the day or evening and utilize an immersive format to give students practical, hands-on experience. Students can pursue a certificate or a degree depending on their career goals. In addition to the school’s culinary arts programs, MCCC offers over 100 programs and majors, including accounting, biotechnology, cloud computing, criminal justice, and education. The school’s virtual campus lets distance learners and working professionals take classes on their own schedules. MCCC’s continuing education courses make it easy for professionals to hone their existing skills and develop new ones.

With six locations in Pennsylvania, Butler County Community College serves the educational needs of students throughout the state. The school offers a large number of degree and certificate programs. Students can pursue associate’s degrees in subjects like biological science, business management, communications, computer science, and criminology. BC3 stands out by offering high-quality lifelong learning courses. These courses are focused on personal enrichment and helping individuals develop new skills. Classes are offered for all ages and skill levels, and classes span subjects like fitness, technology, professional development, photography, adult literacy, and culinary arts. Professionals can also earn non-credit certificates without enrolling and receive certification training to advance their careers.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College offers diplomas, associate’s degrees, and certificates in a variety of areas of study, including business, health, liberal arts, social sciences, and computer information sciences. Students that need a flexible schedule can enroll in an online program. Their programs are designed to help students enter the workforce quickly, develop their professional skills, or transfer to four-year universities. In some instances, students may also be able to earn a certificate while completing an associate’s degree program. The school stands out from other community colleges due to its exceptional athletics programs. Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, softball, and volleyball. The college is also home to an esports program.

Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, PA, is the best choice for students interested in taking English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. LCCC offers both credit and non-credit ESL courses designed to help individuals develop English language skills and prepare them for their future careers. College-level ESL courses are available during the day and evening to accommodate working adults, and non-credit ESL courses are available at the beginner and intermediate levels. Students at LCCC can choose from a wide range of programs, including communication, graphic design, general studies, business management, and sports management. The school partners with several four-year universities, like Drexel University and Pennsylvania State University, to help streamline the transfer process.

Students that depend on financial aid to finance their education should strongly consider attending the Community College of Beaver County. CCBC offers several scholarships, including an honor’s scholarship for high school students in Beaver County, athletic scholarships for student-athletes, and CCBC Foundation scholarships for tuition and books. The school also assists with applying for federal student loans, federal grants, and state grants, and students can earn up to $ 4640.00 per academic year via a work-study program. CCBC’s career paths are designed to help students enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year university. Students can choose from programs like business administration, education, environmental sciences, psychology, and data analytics.

The Community College of Allegheny County is the most affordable option for students who qualify for in-county tuition. Allegheny County Residents pay a competitive $122.00 per credit, up to 11 credits, and students that take 12 to 28 credits pay a flat rate of $1,830.00. Students may also be eligible for scholarships to offset their education costs. The school offers several programs of study, ranging from arts and humanities to business and accounting. CCAC also provides exceptional student support services, including career advising, library services, job readiness services, and student success coaching. Unlike most community colleges, CCAC assists with finding and paying for suitable childcare, making the school an excellent choice for parents who want to pursue a degree.

Delaware County Community College has five major locations in Delaware and Chester counties, making it accessible to students throughout the state. The school offers more than 30 certificate and degree programs in majors like accounting, education, English, engineering, and graphic design. DCCC also provides continuing education and training for professionals that want to develop their skills and advance their careers. Students who need help financing their education may be eligible for scholarships, and the school awards about $300,000 in each year. DCCC stands out as the ideal choice for students that want to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The college partners with Albright College, Delaware Valley University, Drexel University, and West Chester University to allow students who finish their associate’s degree to pursue a bachelor’s degree without transferring to another school.

Based in Nanticoke, PA, Luzerne County Community College offers high-quality, affordable programs in disciplines like business, health sciences, communication arts, computer information systems, and humanities. After enrolling, students must complete placement testing online or on-campus prior to beginning their studies. LCCC’s 11 satellite campuses make the school accessible to more students, and its 11 fully-online associate degree programs make the college an ideal choice for working adults. Luzerne County Community College excels in providing high-quality services and resources for businesses. This includes workforce development, employee retraining, continuing education, and customized training services to businesses throughout the community. Students also benefit from a wide range of on-campus activities and organizations, including athletics programs, a fitness center, student clubs, and honor societies.

Unlike most community colleges, Manor College in Jenkintown, PA, is a private institution that grants both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. With less than 1,000 enrolled students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-one, Manor College is a small institution that provides personalized attention and instruction to each of its students. Popular programs at the school include healthcare administration, business administration, finance, human resources, and computer science. Its business administration, healthcare administration, and liberal arts programs are also available online, providing additional flexibility to students with busy schedules. As a private school, Manor College is more costly than other community colleges in the area. However, these costs can be offset by scholarships, including the Presidential Scholarship, which awards $5,000 to new students with fewer than 11 college credits completed and a minimum GPA of 3.2.