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Luzerne County Community College

#10 Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania
Public Nanticoke, PA · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 87% data
B Diversity B Affordability B Value
Graduation Rate
22% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$40,437 C
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$9,433 B
45% less than the typical college
Enrollment
3,317
Earnings -1% vs avg
Graduation -61% vs avg
Net Price +-45% vs avg
Mobility Top 53%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 24.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.8 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania.

24.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $24.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $899,598.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Graduation of 22% — 61% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $24.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Luzerne County Community College Matters

Luzerne County Community College is a public community college in Nanticoke, 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
3,317
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech

Why students choose Luzerne County Community College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 44% overall
C
Earnings
$40,437 median
B
Value
4.3× net price
B
Affordability
$9,433/yr net
F
Graduation
22% graduate
C
Social Mobility
1.4% climb Q1→Q5
B
Diversity
0.70 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

Luzerne County Community College is a good fit for students who seek a supportive environment and are interested in practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. With about 3,317 students, this college fosters a close-knit community where individuals can thrive in areas that align with their career goals. The focus here is on hands-on learning and skill development, which can be particularly appealing for those looking to enter the workforce quickly and effectively.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average salary of $40,437 within ten years. This figure illustrates that many find their footing in local job markets, especially in fields tied to the programs offered. Affordability is also a key consideration, as many students benefit from financial aid, with 37% receiving Pell Grants. This financial support can ease the burden of tuition and living expenses, making it more feasible for graduates to pursue their careers without overwhelming debt.

The net price after aid sits at $9,433, and the median debt for graduates is $11,000. This manageable debt load means that students can focus on building their futures rather than being weighed down by financial concerns. Those who tend to thrive here are often motivated individuals looking for practical skills and a straightforward pathway into the workforce. Whether you're diving into the arts or gearing up for a career in business, Luzerne County Community College provides a solid foundation for your future.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Luzerne County Community College 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 Luzerne County Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Luzerne County Community College, located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.

Retention Rate
60%
Full-Time Faculty
38%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,870
Student–Faculty Ratio
15:1
Diversity Index
0.70
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 Luzerne County Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Luzerne County Community College is $16,260, 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 $9,433. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,711 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$6,600
Out-of-State
$16,260
Avg Net Price
$9,433
Median Debt
$11,000
Pell Grant Rate
37%
Federal Loan Rate
29%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$7,711
Family Income $30K–$48K
$8,530
Family Income $48K–$75K
$10,358
Family Income $110K+
$14,093

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Luzerne County Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Luzerne County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Luzerne County Community College report median earnings of $40,437, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$35,631
8 Years
$37,761
10 Years
$40,437
Debt-to-Earnings
0.27x
Earning > $25K
51%

Earnings Trajectory

$35,631 6yr $37,761 8yr $40,437 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (81)
11%
100% (81)
11%
100% (81)
11%
100% (81)
11%

How Luzerne Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation22%Earnings 10yr$40KNet Price$9KRetention60%Median Debt$11KPell Grant Rate37%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$8K$0-30K$9K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$14K$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%13.6%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%10.4%MOBILITY1.41%

College ROI Calculator

Is Luzerne County Community College Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Luzerne County Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,433/year ($37,732 total). Graduates earn $40,437 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $937,330 in total earnings — a net gain of $899,598 (24.8× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, 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)
$37,732
Projected 20yr Earnings
$937,330
Net Return
$899,598
ROI Multiple
24.8×
Cost Per Year
$9,433
Median Debt
$11,000
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 Luzerne County Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Luzerne County Community College 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 1.41%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.6% 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 10.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $61,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.41%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
10.4%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
13.6%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$83,014
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Luzerne County 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 Luzerne County Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.22
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.00
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.7%
Support Ratio
0.98
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

Endowment
$934,619
Investment Income
$341,172

Top Programs

The fields Luzerne County Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Luzerne County Community College, located in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.

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

Published tuition at Luzerne County Community College is $16,260, 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 $9,433. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,711 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.

Is Luzerne County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Luzerne County Community College report median earnings of $40,437, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

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

Luzerne County Community College 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 1.41%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.6% 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 10.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $61,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Luzerne County 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 Luzerne County Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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

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