best community colleges in pittsburgh pa

Last Updated on July 30, 2023

There are many colleges in Pittsburgh! From community colleges to world-renowned universities, there is something for everyone.   No matter if you are from the western Pennsylvania area, or outside of the region, the Pittsburgh area boasts an abundance of post-secondary education options.

Here are some general points to know about colleges in Pittsburgh:

  • There are 7 institutions within City of Pittsburgh limits, 4 near the Oakland section and 3 near Downtown.
  • Penn State University offers 4 branch locations in the area; the University of Pittsburgh offers 2 branches plus its main campus in Pittsburgh.
  • There are 4 systems of community colleges across southwestern PA. CCAC is the largest, with campuses on Pittsburgh’s North Side and in the suburbs.
  • Most four-year colleges and universities in the region had a 2018 net price between $15,000 to $25,000. The national average for Net Price was just over $15,000,

Below are short summaries of the 33 colleges in Pittsburgh, perfect for a high school student that is just beginning to search.  This list restricts geographically, generally limiting to colleges within 100 miles of Pittsburgh.  It contains general information about each college or university, including data on size, location, campus life, notable majors and financial aid.

Finally, tuition and net price costs are provided.  This data was extracted from the “College Affordability and Transparency Data Files, 2018”.  The values shown were for the 2018-19 academic year (two semesters).  Tuitions shown are for in-state / in-district students, when applicable.  Net price is an estimate of actual out-of-pocket costs.  It is based on tuition minus financial aid, plus room and board costs, books and fees.  For less expensive schools, net price is typically higher than tuition, but for more expensive schools, net price can be substantially less than tuition.

Butler County Community College

For young adults or lifelong learners near Butler County, BC3 provides an affordable educational option for 60 degree programs in areas such as nursing, business, healthcare and tech. As a two-year institution, BC3 provides both academic and vocational tracks in earning an Associates Degree, with about a third moving on to transfer to a four-year school. In addition to the more typical areas of study, BC3 offers unique programs as well, including Forensics and Metrology, and provides 25 student organizations. 75 distance learning courses are offered online or by videotape for additional convenience. The school is located in a country setting on 320 acres, about a mile south of the City of Butler on the former Oak Hills Golf Course property.

Community College of Allegheny County

CCAC is the 2nd largest community college in Pennsylvania, and the largest provider of educational services in western PA. This is in large part due to its being an affordable alternative to 4-year colleges. There are 170 academic programs to choose from, in four convienient locations around the county (North Side/Allegheny, McCandless, West Mifflin & Monroeville), plus several other centers. CCAC offers an extensive life-long learning program (non-credit) at all of its facilities as well. There are also hundreds of online courses, with 25 degree & 14 certificate programs exclusively online. After 2 years, students may either transfer to a 4-year college or commence their employment.

Community College of Beaver County

CCBC is an affordable option for students in Beaver County and beyond. Located just outside of Monaca near the I-376 / Route 18 interchange, this community college offers programs in over 38 associates and certificate programs. In addition, there are over 100 non-credit classes for the community, both at the school location and at various locations across Beaver County. Online classes are also available.

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College offers over thirty 2-year Associate programs. It is located southeast of Johnstown, PA in Cambria County near US Route 219. Notable majors offered include Business / Commerce, Computer & Information Systems, Teaching Assistance, Medical Assistance, Criminology & Liberal Arts General Studies.

The school is 60% female, and 60% of the students attend part time. There is only a 25% graduation rate, with another 35% transferring out. The student-faculty ratio is 17:1, with around 30 full time professors. Distance learning and weekend / evening classes are available.

Westmoreland County Community College

Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC) offers local students a variety of 2-year programs at an affordable price. The main 80-acre campus is in Youngwood, but there are several campus sites throughout the county. Distance learning, weekend & evening classes are available for those who are working during the day. There is an open admissions policy, but the graduation rate is only around 20%. Half of the students attend full-time, and roughly 35% are aged 25 or older. Most students are female, by a 2:1 margin. There is a large degree of diversity as far as where students are in their professional lives.

WCCC offers over 60 Associate’s Degree programs, 12 Diploma and 38 Certificate Programs. Notable majors include: Associates: Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Information Science, Networking, Registered Nursing, Family Services, Education, Medical Assistance. Certificate: Welding Technology, Well Drilling, Administrative Assistance. WCCC also offers an array of non-credit courses for the community.

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