Community College of Philadelphia — ROI, Cost & Payback
Community College of Philadelphia charges a net price of $11,911/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $23,822. Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,852, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Community College of Philadelphia does not clear its cost — it ranks #130 of 169 Pennsylvania colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $11,911/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $23,822 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $40,852 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$7,508/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$173,982 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Community College of Philadelphia's own numbers. Net price $11,911 × 2 years = $23,822 total. Median earnings $40,852 fall $7,508 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $23,822 bill in about 2.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Community College of Philadelphia students graduate with?
A median $10,750 in federal loans among completers, or 26% of the $40,852 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Community College of Philadelphia students graduate?
24% finish their degree — 76% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $23,822 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $99,258 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Community College of Philadelphia expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $11,911 net price runs $9,830 below the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, and $19,660 less across the full degree.