About Us

Welcome to Community College of Philadelphia, a public, open-admission institution that provides both academic resources and support services to help students achieve their academic goals. As the largest public institution of higher education in Philadelphia, the College has served more than 685,000 of the city’s residents since 1965.

Key Facts

Community College of Philadelphia offers more than 100 associate degree, academic and proficiency certificate programs. Recent graduates continue to strengthen Philadelphia’s local economy and workforce—85 percent of recent graduates who were working at a job eight months after graduating from the College were employed in the Philadelphia metro area. The College enables students to embark on a smart path to a bachelor’s degree program, with transfer agreements and partnerships to assist in the transition.

We offer a wide range of scholarships to assist students paying tuition at the College or a four-year institution. To accommodate a wide range of students, we offer day, evening and weekend classes on our Main Campus and at our three Regional Centers. Online and hybrid courses and degree programs provide even more flexibility when pursuing a college education.

Businesses and professionals look to Corporate Solutions for specialized services, such as customized workforce training, certification training, professional development workshops and onsite degree programs. For those that want to get involved, athletics and campus life initiatives give students learning and leadership experience outside of the classroom.

College Environment

Small class sizes and dedicated faculty create a personalized, supportive atmosphere.
Our students and faculty bring a diverse mix of cultural backgrounds, ages and life experiences to the College. International students especially enrich our learning environment by offering a current global perspective.
The College enables all its students to interact with individuals from different parts of Philadelphia and the world, facilitating conversation, connection and self-discovery.
Student Body
Enrollment (for 2020-2021 academic year):

Approximately 10,608 full-time equivalent students.
Approximately 19,265 students enrolled in credit classes.
Student Characteristics
More than half (54%) are 24 or younger, and the median age is 23
There are more women (66%) than men
There are diverse groups of students (Fall 2020):
African-American 41%
White 23%
Hispanic/Latino 16%
Asian/Pacific Islander 11%
Other/Unknown 4%
Two or More Races 3%
Non-resident Alien 2%
Approximately 72% are minority students
69% are enrolled in transfer or liberal arts programs; 20% enrolled in career programs; 11% enrolled in noncredit, continuing education coursework
Economic Impact (for 2020-2021)
Annual Payroll: $74,948,232
Wage Tax: $2,942,304
Expenditures for Goods and Services: $101,668,690
Federal and State Revenues: $71,248,108

85% of recent graduates who were working at a job eight months after graduating from the College were employed in the city.

Faculty and Staff

310 Full-time Faculty
297 Part-time Faculty
520 Administrative and support staff

2021-2022 Budget
$162 million
Operating $141 million
Capital $12 million
Catto Scholarship $9 million

Academic Offerings

More than 100 degree and certificate programs in Business, Entrepreneurship and Law; Creative Arts; Design, Construction and Transportation; Education and Human Services; Health Care; Liberal Arts and Communications; and Science and Technology.
Day, evening and weekend classes for full-time and part-time students. Credit and noncredit courses at the Main Campus, three regional Centers and neighborhood locations.
Online and hybrid courses.
Customized courses for business and industry.
Comprehensive academic support services and programs, services for students with disabilities and other support services available.
Degrees Granted
Associate in Arts (A.A.)
Associate in Science (A.S.)
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

Accreditation

Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Specific program accreditation information is available

Financial Aid

Approximately 83% of full-time students and 73% of all students receive some type of financial aid.

Funding

Operating Costs are shared among the students, city and the Commonwealth. Capital costs are funded by the city and the Commonwealth.

Educational Impact

We are the largest public institution of higher education in Philadelphia and the sixth largest in Pennsylvania. The College has served more than 685,000 individuals since it began operation.
More than three-quarters of graduates in transfer programs continue on to four-year institutions

Degree