Reading Area Community College
Quick Degree Finder
Find an Accredited Program
Accepting applicants in this field now.
Results are sponsored program matches from BestColleges, our advertising partner. Privacy Terms
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, Psychology
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
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 30%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Reading Area Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,510 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 $9,228 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,968 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $8,750.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 genuine 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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Reading Area 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 Reading Area Community College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Reading Area Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Reading Area Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,510 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 $9,228 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,968 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $8,750.
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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
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 genuine 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.08 (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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.08 (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