Lehigh Carbon Community College
#8 Most Affordable Colleges in PennsylvaniaBottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 26.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $26.5 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $26.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $940,519.
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What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
Graduation of 29% — 49% below the national average.
Every $1 invested returns $26.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Lehigh Carbon Community College Matters
Lehigh Carbon Community College is a public community college in Schnecksville, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity 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
- 4,148
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Lehigh Carbon Community College
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 $9,203 a year after grants and scholarships — 46% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,436 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 76% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.34 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Lehigh Carbon Community College serves about 4,148 students and is a solid choice for those seeking practical skills in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Computer Science & IT, and Education. With a focus on preparing students for immediate employment or further education, this school caters particularly well to individuals looking for a supportive environment to start their academic journey or transition into a new career. Its compact size fosters a community feel, which many students appreciate as they navigate their educational paths.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $42,436 within ten years. This figure is meaningful because it reflects the college’s focus on programs that align closely with local job markets. The affordability factor is also significant—students can expect a net price of around $9,203 after financial aid, making it a viable option for many. With 34% of students receiving Pell Grants, financial support is accessible for those who need it, helping to ease the burden of educational costs.
When it comes to the practical side of attending Lehigh Carbon, students typically graduate with a median debt of $11,000. This is relatively manageable, especially when considering the average earnings post-graduation. Those who thrive here are often self-motivated individuals, eager to engage with their studies and take advantage of the resources available, whether that’s through academic support or connections to local employers. It’s a place where students can build a foundation for their future without excessive financial strain.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Lehigh Carbon Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
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Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lehigh Carbon Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, Lehigh Carbon Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 29%.
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 Lehigh Carbon Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Lehigh Carbon Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $13,270 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $9,203 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,219 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Lehigh Carbon Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lehigh Carbon Community College report median earnings of $42,436; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Lehigh 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 Lehigh Carbon Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lehigh Carbon Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,203/year ($36,812 total). Graduates earn $42,436 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $977,331 in total earnings — a net gain of $940,519 (26.5× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 29% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
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 Lehigh Carbon Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lehigh Carbon Community College 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 1.00%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here: roughly 11.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,000, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Lehigh Carbon Community College 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Lehigh Carbon Community College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Lehigh Carbon Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
As a public institution in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, Lehigh Carbon Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 29%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lehigh Carbon Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Lehigh Carbon Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $13,270 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $9,203 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,219 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $11,000.
Is Lehigh Carbon Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Lehigh Carbon Community College report median earnings of $42,436; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does Lehigh Carbon Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Lehigh Carbon Community College 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 1.00%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here: roughly 11.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,000, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Lehigh Carbon Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Lehigh Carbon Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.34 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lehigh Carbon Community College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lehigh Carbon Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Lehigh Carbon Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 1.34 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note