Reading Area Community College

10 S Second St
Reading, PA 19603
Top Ranked (2024-25): View Rankings
  • Reading Area Community College, serving Berks County, is a publicly-supported, comprehensive community college which awards the Associate in Arts, the Associate in Applied Science and the Associate in General Studies degrees. Certificates and diplomas in employment fields are awarded as well.

School Highlights

Reading Area Community College serves 4,737 students (19% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 16:1 is higher than the state community college average of 11:1.
Minority enrollment is 97% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the state average of 92%.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Enrollment: 4,737 students
  • In-state tuition: $8,520
  • Out-state tuition: $12,030
  • Student:teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Minority enrollment: 97%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Reading Area Community College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size

School Overview

The teacher population of 298 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Reading Area Community College
(PA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Private not-for-profit
Total Faculty
298 staff
58 staff
This chart displays total faculty of Reading Area Community College and community college average number of faculty in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Reading Area Community College has grown by 10% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 16:1 has increased from 14:1 over five years.
The Reading Area Community College diversity score of 0.62 is less than the state average of 0.68. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
4,737 students
344 students
This chart displays the total enrollment of Reading Area Community College and community college average number of enrollment of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
16:1
11:1
This chart displays the student staff ratio of Reading Area Community College and community college average student staff ratio of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
895 students
241 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Reading Area Community College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
3,842 students
103 students
This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Reading Area Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Reading Area Community College.
This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Pennsylvania.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
258 students
312 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
895 students
241 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Reading Area Community College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
5 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
3,842 students
103 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
19 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
330 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
2%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Reading Area Community College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Asian
9%
14%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Reading Area Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Reading Area Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
% Black
36%
10%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Reading Area Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
3%
8%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Reading Area Community College and the percentage of White community college students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
49%
52%
This chart displays the percentage of Hawaiian students in Reading Area Community College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Two or more races
n/a
5%
This chart displays the percentage of Two or more races students in Reading Area Community College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
n/a
7%
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Reading Area Community College.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Pennsylvania.
Diversity Score
0.62
0.68
This chart displays the diversity score of Reading Area Community College and the community college average diversity score of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.2397%
0.658%
This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Reading Area Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.4973%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$33,300
$34,900
This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Reading Area Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Pennsylvania by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $8,520 is less than the state average of $10,513. The in-state tuition has declined by 11% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $12,030 is less than the state average of $15,152. The out-state tuition has grown by 13% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$8,520
$10,513
This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of Reading Area Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$12,030
$15,152
This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Reading Area Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
95%
91%
This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Reading Area Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$9,858
$13,000
This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Reading Area Community College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$8,000
$6,111
This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Reading Area Community College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Pennsylvania by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
78%
SAT Reading
n/a
460
SAT Math
n/a
470
SAT Writing
n/a
435
ACT Composite
n/a
20
ACT English
n/a
20
ACT Math
n/a
21
ACT Writing
n/a
7
Source: 2023 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Reading Area Community College is an open enrollment, fully accredited two-year educational institution that awards associate degrees in career and transfer programs. Affordable tuition costs are maintained through sponsorship by the County of Berks and support from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Over 5,000 students are currently enrolled in credit courses on campus and over 25,000 people in Berks County participate annually in various non-credit vocational and continuing education training courses. Reading Area Community College was founded on October 1, 1971, and sponsored for 20 years by the Reading School District. Classes were held for the first time on October 13, 1971, with an enrollment of 265 students. The college operated from several buildings throughout Reading during its early years until it acquired the Holiday Inn (the current Berks Hall building) in 1978. In 1996, the college completed a campus expansion plan that transformed it into an attractive city-based campus. In the fall of 2002, enrollment was at a record high of 3,800 credit students. Reading Area Community College is approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as an institution of higher education, and is authorized to award the Associate in Arts Degree, the Associate in Applied Science Degree, the Associate in General Studies Degree, and the Certificate of Specialization, as well as appropriate diplomas and certificates. The Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Philadelphia, has granted full accreditation to Reading Area Community College.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Reading Area Community College cost?
Reading Area Community College's tuition is approximately $8,520 for In-State students and $12,030 for Out-State students.
What is Reading Area Community College's ranking?
Reading Area Community College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Pennsylvania for: Largest student body and Least debt for graduating students.

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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Enrollment: 4,737 students
  • In-state tuition: $8,520
  • Out-state tuition: $12,030
  • Student:teacher ratio: 16:1
  • Minority enrollment: 97%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

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