May 9, 2014 2 min read

Westmoreland County Community College tuition will increase $5 per credit for the fall semester as approved by the college’s board of trustees at its recent April meeting.

Westmoreland County students will pay $98 per credit tuition. Residents of other Pennsylvania counties will be charged $196 per credit while tuition for out-of-state students will be $294 per credit.

The tuition rate is $196 per credit for residents of other Pennsylvania counties and $294 per credit for out-of-state students.

The technology fee will increase by $8 to $23 while the facilities fee will be $5, up $2.

WCCC President Daniel J. Obara said, “An increase of five percent will be required to balance the budget for the 2014-15 fiscal year despite significant reductions in expenses for staff and faculty positions.”

“WCCC remains one of the most affordable institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania and the nation,” Obara said.

The trustees approved two new programs that will start with the fall term. The associate of fine arts degree – graphic design option is designed to parallel the first two years of a baccalaureate in fine arts in graphic and to transfer to four-year institutions. An articulation agreement with Seton Hill University has been developed that will ease the transfer process for graduates of this WCCC program.

The criminal justice security professional certificate will prepare graduates for entry-level positions as security officer, security guard, loss prevention specialist, campus security officer and gaming surveillance officer. The U.S. Department of Labor projects a 12 percent job growth through 2022 for security guard positions.

This short-term certificate can be completed in one semester of full-time study.