Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

With an enrollment of over 38,000, the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) has more students than any other institution of higher learning in the city. The school was founded in 1964 to provide affordable educational opportunities for area residents and currently offers associate degrees, which can transfer to a four-year college or university, and certificates for students who want to enter the workforce in a year or two or for students who need particular certification for an existing career.

In addition to traditional classes, the school offers online and hybrid courses in order to remain flexible for students and their needs. There is also the added flexibility of three other campuses: the Northeast Regional Center, the Northwest Regional Center, and the West Regional Center.

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Information Summary

Ranks 175th in Pennsylvania and 2450th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	57.4
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$6,542
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	15 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	54% / 42%
Enrollment Total (all students)	16,672

Academics

Three different associate degrees are available: Associate in Arts, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Science. Students can choose to enter the workforce after graduation or apply these credits to a four-year college or university and work towards a bachelor’s degree. Many certificates are offered as well, which take about a year to earn and making it ideal for those who need to freshen up their skills or learn a new trade.

The school is very comprehensive and they have programs for just about every interest, making this a great learning institution. The school has the following departments for students to enroll in:

Architecture and Construction
Art, Design, and Media
Business and Technology
Health Care
Law and Public Service
Liberal Arts
Science
Social and Human Services
Technical/Trade

The school also has certificate programs in Addiction Studies, Biomedical Technician Training, Computer-Assisted Design Technology, Creative Writing, Disability Studies, Geographic Information Systems, Human Services, Justice, Leadership Studies, Management, Marketing, Social Gerontology, Women’s Studies/Gender Studies, and Youth Work.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

The school has an open admissions policy. The college is ideal for students who want to move onto a four-year institution; in fact, more than half of those who graduated move onto four-year colleges or universities.

Applicants should have at least a high school diploma. All prospective students must take a placement exam in the form of a test that helps to determine reading, writing, and math skills so be prepared for these.

There is a dual admissions program in place with nine area colleges and universities: Cabrini College, Chesnut Hill College, Cheyney University, Drexel University, Eastern University, Holy Family University, Peirce College, and Temple University. Students who join the dual admission program attend to earn an associate’s degree, while working to keep a minimum grade point average determined by the four-year institution. This program makes the transfer to the four-year institution much easier.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for students who need help paying their way through college. Federal Pell Grants, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Work-Study Programs, PHEAA State Grants, and the CORE Philadelphia Scholarships are just some of the specific types of aid that students can use.

Students can begin the financial aid process by filling out a Free Application for Student Aid form, which can be done online. Financial aid advisors encourage all students to fill out this form, even ones who do not plan to use aid. The priority filing deadline is typically April 15 each year.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 6255th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Pennsylvania.

Students

Many students join one of the dozens of clubs and organizations the college offers; these include the Design Club, Delta Psi Omega, Latin American Student Organization, National Black Law Student Association, Earth Watch Alliance Club, and Phi Theta Kappa, Rho Upsilon Chapter.

Journalism and English students can join the staff of the student newspaper, the Vanguard, or contribute to Limited Editions or New Sights/New Visions, the school literary and art magazines.

There are also student theatre productions, as well as the Annual Spring Poets and Writers Series.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

CCP has men’s sports teams in basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, track, and cross-country. The women compete in softball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, track, and cross-country. The school is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference and the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association.

The school also has an extensive intramural sports program, with leagues in racquetball, volleyball, bowling, aerobics, and other sports.

Accreditation

Accreditation is provided by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Community College of Philadelphia