WCCC named to U.S. Dept. of Education list of lowest net price colleges
A recent U. S. Department of Education report lists Westmoreland County Community College as one of the lowest cost colleges in the nation.
With a net price of $2,481, WCCC was named 40th on the list of public, two-year postsecondary institutions with the lowest net prices. The national average net price for two-year public colleges is $6,780.
The report data was compiled by the U. S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics which surveyed more than 1,000 two-year public colleges regarding their total costs of attendance. The net price was determined by subtracting the average amount of federal, state/local government or institutional grant or scholarship aid from the sum of the college’s 2008-09 published tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board and other expenses.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College was the only other college in the state to make the top 100, with a net price of $3,390.
“WCCC has maintained the lowest tuition rate in Pennsylvania for at least the last two decades,” said College President Daniel J. Obara. “We know that many of our students work one or two jobs to help pay for their education, so we strive to keep our costs affordable.”
Currently, WCCC has a flat tuition rate of $1,200 for Westmoreland County residents and $2,400 for out-of-county residents who enroll for 12 to 18 credits. The rate for fewer than 11 credits and 19 or more credits is $80 per credit for Westmoreland County residents and $160 per credit for residents of other Pennsylvania counties. The college also charges an $11 per credit technology service fee, $3 per credit student service fee and $3 per credit facilities fee.
The WCCC fall semester started Aug. 18 and the accelerated Late-Start Session begins September 15.