Reading Area Community College
#7 Best Psychology Colleges in Pennsylvania- Graduation Rate
- 30% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $39,082 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $9,228 B+
- 46% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,703
Bottom 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 #7 in Best Psychology Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $26.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $941,849.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 30% — 48% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $26.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Reading Area Community College Matters
Reading Area Community College is a public community college in Reading, 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
- 3,703
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Reading Area 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 $9,228 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 $39,082 ten years after enrolling — 4% below the typical college, against $8,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 73% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.08 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 3,700 students, Reading Area Community College serves as a practical stepping stone for those looking to enter various fields, especially in Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Psychology, and Computer Science & IT. It’s a good fit for individuals seeking a community-focused environment where they can gain essential skills and knowledge before diving into the workforce.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $39,082 within ten years of completing their program. This figure suggests that many graduates find pathways to stable employment. Affordability plays a significant role here, with a net price of $9,228 after aid, making it accessible for a wide range of students. The fact that 35% of students receive Pell Grants highlights the college's commitment to supporting those with financial needs.
When it comes to the bottom line, the median debt for graduates stands at $8,750, which positions this college as a sensible choice for students concerned about student loans. Those who thrive here usually appreciate a supportive community and are motivated to gain practical skills that can enhance their job prospects. It’s a place for learners ready to take actionable steps toward their career goals without overwhelming financial burdens.
Rankings
- #7 Best Psychology Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #9 Most Affordable Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #14 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #17 Best Computer Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #17 Best Data Science Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #18 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #18 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Pennsylvania
- #18 Best Online Business Programs in Pennsylvania
Can I Get In?
How selective Reading Area Community College 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 Reading Area Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, Reading Area Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,774
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 54%
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 Reading Area Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Reading Area Community College is $12,510, 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 $9,228. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,968 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,480
- Out-of-State
- $12,510
- Avg Net Price
- $9,228
- Median Debt
- $8,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 20%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,968
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,553
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,987
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,049
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 Reading Area Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Reading Area Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Reading Area Community College report median earnings of $39,082, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,565
- 8 Years
- $38,587
- 10 Years
- $39,082
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.22x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (47)
- 12%
- 100% (47)
- 12%
- 100% (47)
- 12%
- 100% (47)
- 12%
How Reading 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 Reading Area Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Reading Area Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,228/year ($36,912 total). Graduates earn $39,082 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $978,761 in total earnings — a net gain of $941,849 (26.5× your investment). The median debt is $8,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $36,912
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $978,761
- Net Return
- $941,849
- ROI Multiple
- 26.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,228
- Median Debt
- $8,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
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 Reading Area Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Reading Area 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 1.05%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.8% 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 7.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.05%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 7.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $87,633
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,458,249
- Investment Income
- $268,410
Top Programs
The fields Reading Area 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.
- Health Professions 22% $67,670 early-career
- Business & Marketing 20% $33,905 early-career
- Humanities 12%
- Computer Science & IT 8%
- Psychology 7%
- Criminal Justice 4% $39,121 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- Physical Sciences 3%
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Reading Area Community College'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
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Reading Area Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Reading, Pennsylvania, Reading Area Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Reading Area Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Reading Area Community College is $12,510, 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 $9,228. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,968 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,750 in federal student loans.
Is Reading Area Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Reading Area Community College report median earnings of $39,082, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Reading Area Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Reading Area 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 1.05%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.8% 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 7.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Reading Area Community College? 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 Reading Area Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Reading Area Community College.
- Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeSchnecksville, PA · Close peer29% grad $42,436 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- SUNY Broome Community CollegeBinghamton, NY · Close peer23% grad $39,710 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mohawk Valley Community CollegeUtica, NY · Close peer36% grad $39,850 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Central Oregon Community CollegeBend, OR · Close peer25% grad $38,940 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Berkeley City CollegeBerkeley, CA · Close peer39% grad $41,217 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Parkland CollegeChampaign, IL · Close peer32% grad $38,320 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Reading Area Community College? 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 Reading Area Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note