2023 Best Online Community Colleges in Pennsylvania

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Serving Delaware and Chester counties, Delaware County Community College (DCCC) is a public institution offering online associate degrees and certificates. While some degrees can be completed entirely remotely, some are only 90% online. Fully online degrees are in majors such as administration of justice, early childhood education, general business, and health care management. About 40% of DCCC's student body enrolls in distance-only education. Graduating generally requires 60-62 credits, taking full-time students about two years to complete. DCCC has an open admission policy that accepts 100% of applicants, and 17% of students graduate.

DCCC provides distance learners access to Canvas to participate in classes. It has a 16:1 student ratio. DCCC awards scholarships that distance learners may qualify for based on need and merit. DCCC is especially known for its diversity: While 48% of students are White, 29% are Black, 8% are Hispanic, and 6% are Asian.

Bethlehem's Northampton County Area Community College (NCACC) is a two-year, public, Hispanic-serving institution offering numerous online associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas. About 27% of NCACC students exclusively attend online. Notable majors include applied psychology, business administration, criminal justice, public health, and social work. NCACC's traditional online programs require approximately 60 credits, which takes full-time students an average of two years to finish. NCACC has an open admission policy and accepts all applicants. It has a 30% graduation rate.

NCACC's distance learners use Blackboard to access online coursework and instruction. Classes are small due to NCACC's 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio, allowing for one-on-one guidance. Online student support services include access to library resources, advising, tutoring, and the bookstore. NCACC is known for its prestigious alumni, including Pulitzer Prize winners, Academy Award winners, and business leaders.

Pittsburgh's Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) is a public institution offering online associate degrees and online certificates. About 19% of CCAC's student body studies exclusively online. Areas of study include business management, criminal justice and criminology, fire and emergency services, and software development. Distance learners complete approximately 65 credits, which typically takes about two years of full-time study. CCAC accepts all applicants with its open admission policy, and 21% of students graduate with degrees.

Distance learners at CCAC use Blackboard to log into classes and engage with instructors and peers. A 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio makes class sizes manageable for instructors and students. CCAC is known for its scholarships. Every year, the CCAC Educational Foundation awards more than $300,000 from over 100 scholarships to students meeting eligibility requirements. Scholarships are based on financial need, academic merit, and academic discipline.

Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC) is a public, two-year institution in rural Youngwood offering several online associate degrees. Majors of interest include business administration, criminal justice, forensic science, and medical/healthcare management. Approximately one-third of WCCC students participate in distance-only education. As with many community colleges, WCCC has an open admission policy that allows it to accept all applicants. It has a 22% graduation rate.

WCCC's distance learners use D2L to gain access to online curriculum and instruction. It has a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1. WCCC offers several student academic support services distance learners can access remotely, including tutoring, academic advising and counseling, transfer counseling, and library resources. Its Career Connections Center can help students look toward the future by exploring majors and careers, conducting job searches, and identifying internship opportunities.

Reading Area Community College (RACC) is a two-year, public, Hispanic-serving institution offering online associate degrees that help prepare students for transfer to four-year universities or career placement. About one-third of RACC's student body participates in online-only education. Fields of study include popular industries such as business, education, STEM, and computer information and technology. Online associate degree programs require approximately 60 credits, taking about two years of full-time enrollment. Similar to other community colleges, RACC has an open admission policy and accepts all applicants. It has a 17% graduation rate.

RACC delivers its online program content via Canvas. It has a 22:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Students may be eligible to apply for scholarships through the Reading Area Community College Foundation to help offset college costs. RACC is known for its nine Academic Pathways with options including transfer programs, career programs, and certificates. It also offers the FOCUS 2 online career exploration tool for students who are undecided about the future.