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2023 Best Online Community Colleges in Pennsylvania

By OnlineU Staff Writers | Updated 12/29/2022
2023 Best Online Associate Degrees in  Badge

Pennsylvania's community colleges offer a diverse range of online associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Many of these two-year schools also have articulation agreements with the state's four-year colleges, which are designed to help smooth the transition for those students who may want to continue on to a bachelor's degree. 

Online associate degree programs are typically developed to help graduates meet the state's workforce needs. For example, online programs in education, healthcare administration, social work, business administration, and information technology may help fill job openings in Pennsylvania's top industries, which include elementary and secondary education, hospitals, individual and family services, universities, and various types of business organizations. 

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2023 Best Online Community Colleges in Pennsylvania

RankSchool Salary Score Median Starting Salary
# 1 #1 Harrisburg Area Community College-Harrisburg 67 67 $42,411
# 2 #2 Lehigh Carbon Community College 63 $41,830
# 3 #3 Community College of Philadelphia 58 $32,181
# 4 #4 Montgomery County Community College 55 $31,582
# 5 #5 Bucks County Community College 54 $36,777
# 6 #6 Delaware County Community College 50 $37,316

#1 Harrisburg Area Community College-Harrisburg

  • Salary Score: 67
  • Median Starting Salary: $42,411
  • Locations: Harrisburg
  • Accreditation: MSCHE

Harrisburg Area Community College - Harrisburg (HAAC) offers 24 online associate degrees in subjects like business, accounting, public relations, healthcare management, and web development and design. This public college also offers several online certificates and diplomas. Students access their online courses through the Brightspace learning system.

HAAC accepts all applicants who have earned a high school diploma or the equivalent. By taking placement exams, newly admitted students may be able to test out of certain general education courses. Online students also have access to the Career Coach technology program that assists students in identifying career options and charting a course for achieving their professional goals.

#2 Lehigh Carbon Community College

  • Salary Score: 63
  • Median Starting Salary: $41,830
  • Locations: Schnecksville
  • Accreditation: MSCHE

Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) is a public college that has been designated as a Hispanic-serving institution. The school offers 33 online associate degrees in seven core areas: arts, communication, and design; business and administration; computer science and information technology; education and public services; healthcare; manufacturing, trades, and transportation; and science and engineering. All online courses are delivered through the Canvas learning platform.

Admission requirements include a high school diploma or the equivalent, and nearly all applicants are accepted. Online students may apply for financial aid, and some may be eligible for some of LCCC's scholarships.

#3 Community College of Philadelphia

  • Salary Score: 58
  • Median Starting Salary: $32,181
  • Locations: Philadelphia
  • Accreditation: MSCHE

The Community College of Philadelphia (CCP), a public college, has been recognized as both an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution and a predominantly Black institution. CCP offers nine online associate degree programs, which require the completion of 60-62 credit hours. Degree options include psychology, accounting, business, English, early childhood education, and technical studies. At CCP, students access their online courses through the Canvas learning system.

CCP accepts nearly all applicants, and prospective students can take the school's self-assessment to determine whether online learning is right for them before enrolling. Once enrolled, online students have access to services such as career counseling and academic advising.

#4 Montgomery County Community College

  • Salary Score: 55
  • Median Starting Salary: $31,582
  • Locations: Blue Bell
  • Accreditation: MSCHE

Through the public Montgomery County Community College (Montco), students can earn a wide range of online associate degrees. Options include business, cloud computing, cybersecurity, accounting, psychology, marketing, web design, healthcare administration, and history. Most degree programs require the completion of 60-62 credit hours. Montco uses the Blackboard learning platform to deliver asynchronous, synchronous, hybrid, and "flex" courses that allow students to choose to attend in person or synchronously online. Some courses last seven weeks, while others last 15 weeks.

Admission requirements include a high school diploma or the equivalent, and Montco accepts all applicants. Online students are eligible for financial aid, and they are automatically considered for one of Montco's 500 scholarships when they fill out the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA).

#5 Bucks County Community College

  • Salary Score: 54
  • Median Starting Salary: $36,777
  • Locations: Newtown
  • Accreditation: MSCHE

Bucks County Community College, a public college, offers 22 online associate degrees and nine online certificate programs. Some of the degree options include computer science, psychology, social work, criminal justice, and business administration. The English degree features three optional areas of concentration in writing, secondary education, and women's studies. Most associate degrees require the completion of 61-63 credit hours, and Bucks students use the Canvas learning platform to access this coursework.

Bucks accepts nearly all applicants as long as they've earned a high school diploma or the equivalent. Online students are eligible for financial aid, and some with demonstrated financial need may receive one of the many scholarships available through the school.

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