Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$12,623Annual Cost
$38,752Grad Salary
18.9%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Branch Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$7,454
Need-Based Aid
18.9% receive Pell
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a public institution that provides an array of associate degrees, transfer pathways, and technical certificates. Known for its strong commitment to accessibility, student support, and academic excellence, the college offers a high-value educational foundation in a welcoming, community-centered environment. Whether students are looking to transfer to a four-year university or gain immediate skills for the regional workforce, the college offers an accessible, high-value education that emphasizes personalized attention and student success.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is inclusive by design: 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
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%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College 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
Pennsylvania Highlands 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.
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 Pennsylvania Highlands
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
--%
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.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (Pennsylvania Highlands) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Pennsylvania Highlands — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Pennsylvania Highlands Without SAT or ACT?
Pennsylvania Highlands'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 Pennsylvania Highlands
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Pennsylvania Highlands's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Confirm Cambria County residency for the Smart Start Promise Program specifically
The Cambria County Smart Start Promise Program is a last-dollar scholarship covering up to 100% of tuition and fees for up to 30 credits (fall, spring, and the following summer) for recent Cambria County high school graduates specifically - not all Penn Highlands students, and not students from the college's other service counties. Confirm Cambria County residency and graduation status before assuming this award applies.
Consider the in-house Police Academy for criminal justice-track students
Penn Highlands runs its own MPOETC-approved Act 120 Police Academy on the Richland Campus (919 hours: 498 classroom, 421 hands-on, including firearms and defensive driving) - a state law-enforcement certification pathway administered directly by the college rather than through an outside partner academy. Ask specifically about this in-house academy rather than assuming certification requires a separate external program after graduation.
Use a satellite site if it's closer than the main Johnstown/Richland campus
Penn Highlands operates additional sites in Altoona, Ebensburg, Somerset, and Huntingdon beyond its main location - ask specifically which programs and course formats (in-person, hybrid, online) are actually available at the nearest site, since offerings can differ from the main campus.
Ask about the ACE Bridge Scholarship if arriving with dual-enrollment credit
The ACE Bridge Scholarship is specifically for former dual-enrollment students continuing into an associate degree or certificate - a student who already earned dual-enrollment credit in high school should ask about this scholarship by name rather than assuming standard financial aid covers the same ground.
Expert Insight:
Penn Highlands is one of Pennsylvania's newer community colleges (established 1993 as Cambria County Area Community College, renamed in 2004); older records, alumni references, or legacy materials may still use the earlier name - confirm any documentation referencing "Cambria County Area Community College" is routed to the correct current institution.
Pennsylvania Highlands Profile
Full Name
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College (Pennsylvania Highlands)
City
Johnstown
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
15904-2949
Type
Public
Campus
Branch Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Pennsylvania Highlands Degree Worth It?
Whether Pennsylvania Highlands is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $42,000, and graduates see a 4.47% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Pennsylvania Highlands Cost?
Listed tuition runs $12,623/year at Pennsylvania Highlands; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $7,454.
At Pennsylvania Highlands, 18.9% receive a Pell Grant and 16.7% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Pennsylvania Highlands on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Pennsylvania Highlands Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Pennsylvania Highlands graduates report a median income of $38,752, somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Degree Programs at Pennsylvania Highlands
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Highlands Admissions
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College graduates earn a lower median salary of $38,752/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is relatively affordable, around $12,623/year.
18.9% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — Pennsylvania Highlands Community College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
Explore Other Options
Acceptance Rate of all Pennsylvania Colleges
Average SAT Score of Pennsylvania Colleges
Average ACT Score
Admissions deadlines of Colleges in Pennsylvania
Bachelor Programs in Pennsylvania
Test Optional Colleges in Pennsylvania
SAT Score Wise Best Colleges
ACT Score Wise Best Colleges
Rolling Admissions Colleges in Pennsylvania