Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Community College of Allegheny County logo

Community College of Allegheny County

Public Pittsburgh, PA · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 87% data
C+ Affordability C+ Diversity C+ Value
Graduation Rate
24% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$39,449 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$13,970 C+
18% less than the typical college
Enrollment
9,544
Earnings -3% vs avg
Graduation -58% vs avg
Net Price +-18% vs avg
Mobility Top 66%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 16.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.9 over 20 years.

16.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $16.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $888,430.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 24% — 58% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $16.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Community College of Allegheny County Matters

Community College of Allegheny County is a public community college in Pittsburgh, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Community College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
9,544
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Humanities, Construction Trades, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Community College of Allegheny County

Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 56% overall
C
Earnings
$39,449 median
C+
Value
2.8× net price
C+
Affordability
$13,970/yr net
F
Graduation
24% graduate
D+
Social Mobility
1.2% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Diversity
0.63 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With nearly 9,600 students enrolled, the Community College of Allegheny County is a solid choice for those looking to jumpstart their careers or explore new fields without the pressure of a large university. Students here often dive into programs like Health Professions, Humanities, Construction Trades, Business & Marketing, and Precision Production. This variety allows for a diverse student body with different interests and goals.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $39,449 within ten years, which is a decent starting point for many. The college's affordability is a significant factor, with an average net price of about $13,970 after aid. This means that students can pursue their education without the burden of overwhelming debt. While the graduation rate is 24%, those who do complete their programs often find themselves in a good position to move into the workforce effectively.

When it comes to finances, the median debt for graduates is approximately $12,680, indicating that many students are able to manage their loans post-graduation. The college attracts a mix of students, including those who may be balancing work and studies or are looking for a more flexible educational path. Overall, the Community College of Allegheny County can be a great fit for those who are focused on practical skills and career readiness.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Community College of Allegheny County is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Community College of Allegheny County? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Community College of Allegheny County, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.

Retention Rate
63%
Full-Time Faculty
32%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,600
Student–Faculty Ratio
17:1
Diversity Index
0.63
First-Gen Students
41%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Community College of Allegheny County? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Community College of Allegheny County is $12,583, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,970. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,524 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,680 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$4,842
Out-of-State
$12,583
Avg Net Price
$13,970
Median Debt
$12,680
Pell Grant Rate
32%
Federal Loan Rate
11%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$12,524
Family Income $30K–$48K
$13,255
Family Income $48K–$75K
$14,623
Family Income $110K+
$19,491

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Community College of Allegheny County Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Community College of Allegheny County report median earnings of $39,449, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$33,940
8 Years
$36,023
10 Years
$39,449
Debt-to-Earnings
0.32x
Earning > $25K
52%

Earnings Trajectory

$33,940 6yr $36,023 8yr $39,449 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (161)
8%
100% (161)
8%
100% (161)
8%
100% (161)
8%

How Community Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation24%Earnings 10yr$39KNet Price$14KRetention63%Median Debt$13KPell Grant Rate32%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$13K$0-30K$13K$30-48K$15K$48-75K$19K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%13.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%8.9%MOBILITY1.20%

College ROI Calculator

Is Community College of Allegheny County Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Community College of Allegheny County delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,970/year ($55,880 total). Graduates earn $39,449 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $944,310 in total earnings — a net gain of $888,430 (16.9× your investment). The median debt is $12,680, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 24% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$55,880
Projected 20yr Earnings
$944,310
Net Return
$888,430
ROI Multiple
16.9×
Cost Per Year
$13,970
Median Debt
$12,680
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
24%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Community College of Allegheny County Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Community College of Allegheny County is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.20%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.20%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
8.9%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
13.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$66,100

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Community College of Allegheny County? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Community College of Allegheny County. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.06
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.08
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.6%
Support Ratio
0.94
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$97,570

Top Programs

The fields Community College of Allegheny County awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Community College of Allegheny County? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Community College of Allegheny County, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Community College of Allegheny County? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Community College of Allegheny County is $12,583, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,970. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,524 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,680 in federal student loans.

Is Community College of Allegheny County Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Community College of Allegheny County report median earnings of $39,449, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Does Community College of Allegheny County Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Community College of Allegheny County is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.20%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Community College of Allegheny County? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Community College of Allegheny County. Its economic connectedness score is 1.06, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Community College of Allegheny County.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys