Community College of Philadelphia is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 11,948 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes17
Value47
Affordability61
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Community College of Philadelphia generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Community College of Philadelphia isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,911 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,911
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
57%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
30%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,632
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,744
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,800
Books & Supplies
$2,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,546
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,172
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,728
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,339
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,144
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,032
Over $110,000
$18,795
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$2,25025%percentile
$10,750Medianpercentile
$9,99975%percentile
$17,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,750
↓ $5,000
No Pell $5,250
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $5,250
↓ $5,500
Independent students $6,979
↓ $3,771
Female students $5,700
↓ $5,050
Male students $5,250
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,226, less than completers ($10,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
13% of full-time students who enrolled at Community College of Philadelphia graduate within six years, and 59% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
13%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
59%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Community College of Philadelphia earn a median of $40,852 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,852
Earning > $25K
65%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 61% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Community College of Philadelphia is home to 11,948 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 55% are first-generation college students, 62% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
11,948
Part-Time
62%
First-Generation
55%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 38.3%4,576
Hispanic 19.0%2,273
White 14.9%1,780
Asian 8.1%969
Other 4.1%493
International 3.6%430
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Community College of Philadelphia. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
39%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)
What You Can Study
Community College of Philadelphia offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
45 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Community College of Philadelphia is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,186
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$15M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,191
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
286 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
8
3%
$83,978
Associate Professors
57
20%
$75,052
Assistant Professors
184
64%
$70,680
Instructors
14
5%
$61,985
Lecturers
23
8%
$54,438
Pros & Cons of Community College of Philadelphia
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Community College of Philadelphia tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Community College of Philadelphia is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Community College of Philadelphia
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Community College of Philadelphia.
Is Community College of Philadelphia hard to get into?
Community College of Philadelphia has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Community College of Philadelphia?
Community College of Philadelphia has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Community College of Philadelphia cost?
The average net price after aid at Community College of Philadelphia is $11,911 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Community College of Philadelphia worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,852 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,911 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Community College of Philadelphia known for?
Community College of Philadelphia is best known for its programs in Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Community College of Philadelphia graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Community College of Philadelphia are $40,852, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Community College of Philadelphia accredited?
Yes. Community College of Philadelphia is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Community College of Philadelphia?
Community College of Philadelphia enrolls 11,948 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Community College of Philadelphia?
Community College of Philadelphia graduates 13% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Community College of Philadelphia a public or private college?
Community College of Philadelphia is a Public institution.
Where is Community College of Philadelphia located?
Community College of Philadelphia is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Community College of Philadelphia offer?
Community College of Philadelphia offers 45 distinct programs. The most popular include Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Community College of Philadelphia?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Community College of Philadelphia is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Pennsylvania
Other colleges in Pennsylvania share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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