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College ranks 2nd among Community Colleges in Pennsylvania based on recent Study

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been ranked the second best community college in Pennsylvania by Schools.com. In total, Pennsylvania has 14 community colleges serving the state.

The study performed by Schools.com gathered data on seven quantitative metrics (percentage of students enrolled in distance education, total cost of attendance, student-to-faculty ratio, average retention rate, graduation rate, number of transfer agreements, and flexibility) and were put through a carefully weighted analysis model to determine where the best community colleges could be found.

According to the data, Pennsylvania Highlands featured the third-highest rate of outbound transfers in the state. It was also one of four schools to tie for second place in number of students per faculty member, with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reporting a student-faculty ratio of 17:1.

The study recognized that the College’s cost of attendance is relatively inexpensive, and that the Johnstown-based institution achieved the highest retention rate among all two-year public schools in Pennsylvania. This coincides with data provided by the U.S. Department of Education indicating that Pennsylvania Highlands ranks first in lowest net price for two-year public institutions in Pennsylvania.

About Pennsylvania Highlands:
Since 1994, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has served over 52,000 community members throughout the Southern Alleghenies region and beyond utilizing five facilities in Blair, Cambria, Huntingdon, and Somerset counties, and an Online Campus. Offering over 30 degree, certificate and diploma programs, Penn Highlands has the highest graduation rate of all community colleges in Pennsylvania. Our nationally accredited dual enrollment program is one of only two such accredited programs in the state and is the foundation of our innovative associates in the high school program. Workforce and continuing education programs round out our diverse offerings, making Pennsylvania Highlands the choice for a quality and affordable education. The College currently has an enrollment exceeding 2,500 students.

About Schools.com:
Schools.com is a resource for career-minded students that features in-depth information about growing careers and different educational programs, both online and on-campus, and helps job-seekers and students alike identify potential pathways to success. Schools.com has a network of writers and researchers that compose authoritative articles and infographics that have been syndicated numerous times on national media outlets like AOL and USA Today. Topics that are regularly discussed include career outlooks and planning, adult education, college financial planning, time management tips and more. The wide network of educational institutions, government agencies, bloggers and members of the media that reference and link to the articles and resources on Schools.com continues to grow. Its vast directory of schools makes it easy for students to connect with programs in approximately 200 subjects spanning all 50 states.