Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Community College of Allegheny County — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$13,905Annual Cost
$39,449Grad Salary
29.3%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$8,166
Need-Based Aid
29.3% receive Pell
Community College of Allegheny County is Pittsburgh's largest educational institution with four campuses serving over 30,000 students. CCAC excels in nursing, robotics, and advanced manufacturing programs.
The college's West Hills Center features a simulated hospital environment, while its North Campus houses the Energy Innovation Center. CCAC's 'Ready to Work' initiative partners with regional employers.
Community College of Allegheny County Acceptance Rate
Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Community College of Allegheny County Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Community College of Allegheny County follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
CCAC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at CCAC
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Community College of Allegheny County's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if CCAC is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into CCAC Without SAT or ACT?
CCAC's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for CCAC
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
CCAC's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Apply to nursing through the Discover portal specifically - a separate process from general CCAC admission entirely
CCAC's admissions help center explicitly distinguishes "Creating an account to Apply to CCAC - Nursing Applicant" from the standard new-student application process, and accepted/declined seats in CCAC's Limited Enrollment Programs (which include nursing) are managed through a system called "Discover" - a distinct portal a student must navigate separately from general enrollment. A nursing-track applicant should request specific guidance on the Discover system and nursing-applicant account creation process from CCAC admissions rather than assuming the general new-student application process covers this.
Confirm which of CCAC's four campuses actually offers your target program before building a course plan around campus convenience
CCAC operates across four main campuses (Allegheny, Boyce, North, South) plus several neighborhood centers (Braddock Hills, Homewood-Brushton, West Hills), and program availability - especially limited-enrollment programs like nursing - isn't necessarily uniform across all locations. A student should confirm with admissions which specific campus hosts their target program before assuming geographic convenience (nearest campus) automatically aligns with program availability.
For nursing transfer to Waynesburg University specifically, know the exact credit-transfer numbers - they're more generous than a typical generic transfer
CCAC's articulation agreement with Waynesburg University grants nursing graduates with an Associate of Science in Nursing a specific 60 credits for the associate degree plus 25 credits for the RN license (with an additional six credits of course equivalencies possible), resulting in junior-class status in Waynesburg's RN-to-BSN program - a quantified, named benefit distinct from CCAC's other 28+ articulation partnerships. A CCAC nursing graduate considering Waynesburg specifically should confirm this exact credit breakdown with a transfer advisor, since the RN-license credit component is a real, separately-counted benefit beyond standard associate-degree transfer.
Use CCAC's flat-rate, county-tiered tuition structure to plan costs precisely before enrolling
CCAC charges a genuinely flat rate ($1,950 for 12-18 credits, plus fees) for Allegheny County residents regardless of exact credit load within that range, with separate flat rates for other Pennsylvania county residents ($3,900) and out-of-state students ($5,850) - a structurally different pricing model than per-credit billing common at many community colleges. A student should confirm their specific county-residency tier and understand that taking 12 vs. 18 credits costs the same under this flat-rate structure, making full course loads within that range the most cost-efficient choice.
Expert Insight:
CCAC's 29+ articulation agreements span a genuinely wide range of four-year partners (Pitt, Penn State campuses, Waynesburg, West Liberty, IUP, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and more), but the specific credit-transfer terms, program restrictions (e.g., PAFA's agreement applies only to CCAC's Associate in Arts fine arts graduates specifically, with degree completion preferred), and campus-of-origin requirements vary meaningfully by partner institution. A student should request the specific written articulation agreement for their target school and major rather than assuming a "CCAC transfer agreement" functions identically across all 29+ partners.
CCAC Profile
Full Name
Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC)
City
Pittsburgh
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
15233-1895
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a CCAC Degree Worth It?
At $13,905/year against a $39,449 median graduate salary, CCAC is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $51,000, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.72%.
How much does a degree from CCAC Cost?
The sticker price is $13,905/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $8,166.
29.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 12.1% take federal loans at CCAC — file your FAFSA early and list CCAC as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a CCAC Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $39,449 — somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Degree Programs at CCAC
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About CCAC Admissions
Median earnings for Community College of Allegheny County graduates sit around $39,449 a year.
At about $13,905 a year, Community College of Allegheny County is on the more affordable end.
About 29.3% receive a Pell Grant at Community College of Allegheny County — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
Community College of Allegheny County follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is March 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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