Lackawanna College vs. RACC

Comparable Facts

Compare Lackawanna College in Scranton, PA with Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Reading Area Community College is larger than Lackawanna College based on total student enrollment (5,369 students vs. 2,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lackawanna College is located in Scranton, PA (Small City setting); Reading Area Community College is in Reading, PA (Small City setting).
• Lackawanna College is a private, non-profit 2-year institution. Reading Area Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lackawanna College 21:1; Reading Area Community College 19:1.

Lackawanna College vs. RACC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lackawanna College or RACC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Reading Area Community College than Lackawanna College ($9,089 vs. $19,682).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reading Area Community College are 10.8% lower than at Lackawanna College ($10,800 vs. $12,110).
• Lackawanna College is 62.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than RACC (about $7,090 more per year; $18,400.00 vs. $11,310.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.1% higher at Lackawanna College than at Reading Area Community College (about $5,890 more per year; $18,400.00 vs. $12,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lackawanna College than at Reading Area Community College (87% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lackawanna College students is 63.7% larger than aid received by Reading Area Community College students ($9,173 vs. $5,603).

Lackawanna College vs. RACC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lackawanna College or RACC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RACC and Lackawanna College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.

Lackawanna College vs. RACC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lackawanna College and RACC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Lackawanna College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than RACC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,300 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reading Area Community College graduates have a $4,643 lower median loan debt than Lackawanna College graduates ($10,600 vs. $15,243).
• Among borrowers, RACC graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lackawanna College graduates ($109 vs. $157).
• More Lackawanna College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RACC students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.