Community College of Philadelphia
#5 Best Online Education Programs in Pennsylvania- Graduation Rate
- 22% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,852 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,911 B-
- 30% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 11,948
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 24.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.6 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Online Education Programs in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $24.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,124,624.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 22% — 62% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.85% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $24.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Community College of Philadelphia Matters
Community College of Philadelphia is a public community college in Philadelphia, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
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
- 11,948
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Community College of Philadelphia
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $11,911 a year after grants and scholarships — 30% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,852 ten years after enrolling — 0% above the typical college, against $10,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 13% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.01 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With nearly 12,000 students enrolled, the Community College of Philadelphia caters to a diverse group seeking practical education paths. It’s a good fit for those looking to enter fields like health professions, business and marketing, or computer science. The school’s focus on relevant programs allows students to gain skills that align with today’s job market, making it a compelling choice for those ready to dive into their careers.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $40,852 within ten years, which gives a clear picture of the potential return on investment for their education. Many graduates find their way into stable jobs that provide upward mobility, particularly in sectors like healthcare and IT. The affordability of the college is a plus, with a net price of $11,911 after aid, making higher education accessible for many.
Looking at the financial aspects, students graduate with a median debt of $10,750. This manageable debt level is especially important for those who are balancing work and education. The college tends to attract individuals who are motivated to improve their economic standing, including a significant number receiving Pell Grants. Overall, those who thrive here are often those who take advantage of the tailored programs and support to help them succeed in their chosen fields.
Rankings
- #5 Best Online Education Programs in Pennsylvania
- #5 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania
- #6 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Pennsylvania
- #6 Best Online Business Programs in Pennsylvania
- #7 Best Online Nursing Programs in Pennsylvania
- #14 Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #21 Best Nursing Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #24 Best Computer Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
Can I Get In?
How selective Community College of Philadelphia is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Community College of Philadelphia? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Community College of Philadelphia enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
- Retention Rate
- 60%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 32%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,748
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.79
- First-Gen Students
- 55%
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 Philadelphia? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Community College of Philadelphia is $12,744, 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 $11,911. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,728 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,632
- Out-of-State
- $12,744
- Avg Net Price
- $11,911
- Median Debt
- $10,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 57%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 30%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,728
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,339
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,144
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,795
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Community College of Philadelphia Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Community College of Philadelphia report median earnings of $40,852, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,173
- 8 Years
- $36,448
- 10 Years
- $40,852
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (76)
- 5%
- 100% (76)
- 5%
- 100% (76)
- 5%
- 100% (76)
- 5%
How Community Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Community College of Philadelphia Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Community College of Philadelphia delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,911/year ($47,644 total). Graduates earn $40,852 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,172,268 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,124,624 (24.6× your investment). The median debt is $10,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 22% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $47,644
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,172,268
- Net Return
- $1,124,624
- ROI Multiple
- 24.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,911
- Median Debt
- $10,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 22%
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 Philadelphia Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Community College of Philadelphia is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.85%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 24.1% 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 11.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $43,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.85%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 24.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $43,600
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-3,893,874
Top Programs
The fields Community College of Philadelphia 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.
- Health Professions 35%
- Business & Marketing 14%
- Humanities 11%
- Computer Science & IT 11%
- Psychology 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Education 3%
- Criminal Justice 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Community College of Philadelphia's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Community College of Philadelphia? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Community College of Philadelphia enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Community College of Philadelphia? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Community College of Philadelphia is $12,744, 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 $11,911. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,728 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,750 in federal student loans.
Is Community College of Philadelphia Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Community College of Philadelphia report median earnings of $40,852, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Community College of Philadelphia Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Community College of Philadelphia is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.85%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 24.1% 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 11.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $43,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Community College of Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia. Its economic connectedness score is 1.01, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Community College of Philadelphia.
- San Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino, CA · Close peer24% grad $39,676 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City, MO · Close peer31% grad $40,796 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Tidewater Community CollegeNorfolk, VA · Close peer31% grad $38,349 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Los Angeles City CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer27% grad $36,190 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Bergen Community CollegeParamus, NJ · Close peer22% grad $46,624 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Southwestern CollegeChula Vista, CA · Close peer34% grad $40,060 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Community College of Philadelphia? 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 Philadelphia. Its economic connectedness score is 1.01, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note