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Cheapest community colleges in Pennsylvania

Community colleges in Pennsylvania ranked by published in-state tuition, lowest first. Published tuition is the sticker price; the price you actually pay is typically much lower after federal Pell grants and state aid. Use this list as a starting point, then file the FAFSA to see your real cost.

  1. Northern Pennsylvania Regional CollegeWarren, PA$4,440
  2. Community College of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$4,632
  3. Community College of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh, PA$4,842
  4. Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeSchnecksville, PA$5,280
  5. Northampton County Area Community CollegeBethlehem, PA$5,550
  6. Bucks County Community CollegeNewtown, PA$5,683
  7. Butler County Community CollegeButler, PA$5,910
  8. Westmoreland County Community CollegeYoungwood, PA$6,018
  9. Reading Area Community CollegeReading, PA$6,480
  10. Luzerne County Community CollegeNanticoke, PA$6,600
  11. Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue Bell, PA$6,690
  12. Delaware County Community CollegeMedia, PA$6,930
  13. Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHarrisburg, PA$6,975
  14. Pennsylvania Highlands Community CollegeJohnstown, PA$7,110
  15. Community College of Beaver CountyMonaca, PA$7,500
  16. Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyLancaster, PA$9,050
  17. Yeshivath Beth MosheScranton, PA$10,600
  18. University of Pittsburgh-TitusvilleTitusville, PA$11,918
  19. ASPIRA City CollegePhiladelphia, PA$12,147
  20. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State DuBoisDuBois, PA$14,408
  21. Jna Institute of Culinary ArtsPhiladelphia, PA$14,575
  22. Fortis Institute-ScrantonScranton, PA$15,348
  23. Geisinger Commonwealth School of MedicineScranton, PA$15,886
  24. Vet Tech InstitutePittsburgh, PA$17,320
  25. Rosedale Technical CollegePittsburgh, PA$17,402
  26. Pennsylvania College of TechnologyWilliamsport, PA$18,240
  27. Lackawanna CollegeScranton, PA$18,400
  28. Triangle Tech Inc-GreensburgGreensburg, PA$18,413
  29. Triangle Tech Inc-DuboisFalls Creek, PA$18,462
  30. Triangle Tech Inc-PittsburghPittsburgh, PA$18,463
  31. Triangle Tech Inc-BethlehemBethlehem, PA$18,513
  32. Triangle Tech Inc-SunburySunbury, PA$18,628
  33. Triangle Tech-ChambersburgChambersburg, PA$19,005
  34. South Hills School of Business & TechnologyState College, PA$19,905
  35. Johnson CollegeScranton, PA$21,225
  36. Manor CollegeJenkintown, PA$21,780
  37. Walnut Hill CollegePhiladelphia, PA$29,499
  38. Williamson College of the TradesMedia, PA$31,611
  39. Harcum CollegeBryn Mawr, PA$32,000
  40. Valley Forge Military CollegeWayne, PA$32,176
  41. Saint Joseph's University - LancasterLancaster, PA$32,933

Reading the list

The figures above are the published in-state tuition rates each Pennsylvania community college reports to the U.S. Department of Education. These are the rates posted to the institution's tuition schedule before any aid is applied. For most Pennsylvania community-college students, federal Pell grants alone cover a substantial share of tuition, and state aid programs in Pennsylvania often cover the remainder for residents who qualify. Out-of-state tuition is typically higher; check the individual college profile for both rates.

Tuition alone is not the right comparison for a complete cost picture. The College Scorecard also reports total annual cost of attendance — tuition plus required fees, books, room and board (if applicable), and other expenses — which is the more meaningful number when you are budgeting for a year of school. Each college's full profile lists cost of attendance alongside tuition. For students who can live at home and avoid room-and-board costs, the gap between tuition and cost of attendance shrinks substantially.

If your goal is the lowest possible total cost, the cheapest tuition isn't always the right pick. A slightly more expensive program with a higher transfer rate or stronger articulation agreement with a four-year university may produce a lower total degree cost overall, because lost credit on transfer can erase the savings of a low community-college tuition.