A Guide to the Best Community Colleges in the Pittsburgh Area

A Community College is a great cost-saving alternative to a traditional four-year institution for students that want to prepare for a career or who starting their four-year degrees. All of the community colleges in the Pittsburgh area offer a two-year associate degree programs with credits that are transferable to most major four-year colleges and universities both in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. There are four community colleges located in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

Community College of Allegheny County (www.ccac.org)

The main campus of the Community College of Allegheny County, more commonly known as CCAC, is located on the beautiful North Shore within walking distance of both PNC Park and Heinz Field. There are also branch locations in Monroeville, North Hills and West Mifflin. In addition, college centers are located in the following communities:

Bethel Park, Braddock, Downtown Pittsburgh, Homewood-Brushton, Washington County, and West Hills. CCAC offers over 170 courses of study designed for students seeking a two year degree and for those students planning to continue their education at a four year institution. The current enrollment is 30, 217 including the main and branch campuses which makes CCAC the largest community college in the area.

Tuition and Fees

The tuition at CCAC is based on your county of residence. For students living in Allegheny County, the tuition is $85.25 per credit. For Pennsylvania residents that live outside of Allegheny County and live in a county without a community college, the tuition is $99.25 per credit. For Pennsylvania residents that live outside of Allegheny

County and live in a county with a community college, the tuition is $170.50 per credit. For out of state and foreign students, the tuition is $255.75 per credit. Miscellaneous fees include lab fees, technology fees and graduation fees may apply.

Programs of Study

CCAC offers over 170 academic majors in many areas such as Applied Arts Technologies, Applied Services and Trade Technologies, Computer and Information Technology, Education, Engineering and Science Technologies, Health Careers and Social Service Careers. Students will earn an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree. Certificate programs are also offered.

Students can apply online or by mail. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Community College of Beaver County (www.ccbc.edu)

The main campus of the Community College of Beaver County is located in Monaca, PA. The college has two branches, the Aviation Sciences Center and the Beaver Technology Education Center both located in Chippewa, PA. The main campus is situated in a beautiful rural area of Western Pennsylvania. With a student enrollment of 2,600 and an 18:1 student to teacher ratio, CCBC offers students a personalized college experience in a small community.

Tuition and Fees

The tuition at CCBC is based on your county of residence. The tuition for students residing in Beaver County is $86.50 per credit. For students residing in Pennsylvania, but not in Beaver County, the tuition is $173.00 per credit. For out of state and international students, the tuition is $259.50 per credit. There are additional lab, technology and other course related fees.

Programs of Study

CCBC offers two-year Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees in many different areas of study including Aviation, Business, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Careers and Visual Communications.

Students can apply online and financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Butler Community College (www.bc3.edu)

The main campus of Butler Community College is located in Butler, PA. There are three branch campus locations in Cranberry Township, LindenPointe and Lawrence Crossing. With a student enrollment of over 8,000, Butler Community College is the second largest community colleges in Western Pennsylvania. The majority of the students are commuters and there are on-campus dormitories available to accommodate 350 students.

Tuition and Fees

For students residing in Butler County, the tuition is $79.00 per credit. For all other Pennsylvania residents, the tuition is $158.00 per credit. For out of state and international students, the tuition is $237.00 per credit. Additional fees may be charged based on course selections.

Programs of Study

Butler Community College offers over 47 Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees in the following areas of study: Arts & Education, Business, Human Services, Nursing & Allied Health Technology and Transfer Program designed for students planning to continue their education at a four-year college or university.

Students can apply online and financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Westmoreland County Community College (www.wccc.edu)

The main campus of Westmoreland County Community College is located in rural Youngwood, PA which about 6 miles south of Greensburg and close to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. There are branch locations in Belle Vernon, Export, Fayette County, Indiana, Latrobe, New Kensington, Smithton, Latrobe and Waynesburg. There are approximately 6,400 students attending WCCC at the main campus and branch locations.

Tuition and Fees

For Westmoreland County residents, the tuition is $76.00 per credit. For Pennsylvania residents outside of Westmoreland County, the tuition is $152.00 per credit and for out of state and international students, the tuition is $228.00 per credit. Other fees may apply based on course selection and field of study.

Programs of Study

WCCC offers 54 Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree programs and 48 certificate programs. There is a wide range of programs to choose from including Accounting, Architectural Drafting and Design, Computer Information Security, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Graphic and Web Design, Machine Technology, Nursing, Radiology Technology and many more.

Students can apply online and financial aid is available for those who qualify.

As you can see, it is much more cost effective to attend a community college in the county in which you reside. Many of the colleges will offer county tuition rates to students living in counties without a community college. For example, since Washington County does not have a community college, students residing in Washington County can attend the Community College of Allegheny County at the same tuition rates as Allegheny County residents.

Sources: www.ccac.edu

www.ccbc.edu

www.bc3.edu

www.wccc.edu