Reading Area Community College

Reading Area Community College: Academics, Admissions & Tuition

Research the certificate and degree programs offered at Reading Area Community College in Pennsylvania. Learn about its academics, and get admission and financial aid info to decide if this is the right school for you.

About Reading Area Community College

Reading Area Community College (RACC) is a public, 2-year institution located in Reading, Pennsylvania. In addition to its main campus, RACC has two off-campus locations: Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC) East and BCTC West. The college offers early admission for high school juniors and seniors and has dual admission partnerships with three Pennsylvania universities: Alvernia, Kutztown, and Temple.

RAAC was founded in 1971 and has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1979. The college has earned additional accreditation for its nursing and practical nursing programs.

Academics

RACC offers associate's degrees and certificates or diplomas within five divisions: business, humanities, science/math, social science, and health professions. Approximately 16 of its associate's degrees are transferable to 4-year colleges. The other 22 degree programs prepare students for direct entry into the workforce. Additionally, RAAC offers two cooperative programs with Lehigh Carbon Community College: pre-physical therapy assistant and pre-occupational therapy assistant. In fall 2011, RAAC had 259 total faculty members, 65 of which were full-time. With 5,175 students, the student-to-faculty ratio was 20 to 1.

Admissions

RACC has an open admissions policy with no application fee. Students can apply online or by submitting a paper application. Students must submit a copy of their high school transcripts or GED and transcripts from any other college they attended. Admission to RAAC doesn't guarantee admission into the college's selective programs: nursing, practical nursing, respiratory care, medical laboratory technician, culinary arts, and electric utility technology.

In fall 2011, 24% of the students attending RAAC were full-time. That same year, 64% were female and 56% were White. The next largest ethnic group was Hispanic/Latino at 23%.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2011-2012, the estimated annual tuition was $4,110 for in-district residents, $6,900 for state residents and $9,630 for non-residents. The cost of books and supplies was estimated at $1,800. RAAC offers a tuition payment plan.

84% of RAAC's first-time, full-time students received financial aid for the 2010-2011 academic year. It is recommended that students submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. This allows them to be considered for grants, loans, and work study. Submitting the FAFSA by May 1 allows students to be considered for RAAC Foundation Scholarships as well.

READING AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE QUICK FACTS
School Type	Public, 2-year*
Degrees Offered	Associate's and certificates/diplomas**
Religious Affiliation	None*
Academic Calendar	Semesters**
School Setting	Small city*
Student Body (Fall 2011)	5,175 students*
Student Housing	No on-campus housing*
ACADEMICS
Programs	About 38 degree programs and 16 certificate/diploma programs**
Student-Faculty Ratio	20 to 1*
Most Popular Fields of Study by Degree Level (Number of Recipients)	For 2010-2011: Associate's: Liberal Arts and Science/Liberal Studies (52), Business Administration and Management, General (45) Certificate: Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training (30)*
Undergraduate Graduation Rates (Students Starting Fall 2008)	8% graduated within 150% of normal program completion time*
ADMISSIONS
Admission Rate	Open admissions policy, some programs have selective admissions*
Entering Class Size (First-Time Students Only - Fall 2011)	866 first-time students***
First-Year Retention Rates (Fall 2010 to Fall 2011)	55% of full-time students, 43% of part-time students*
Average SAT or ACT Score of Admitted Students	Not required for admission**
Application Due Date	February 18 for spring 2013 and June 21 for summer 2013**
Decision Notification Date	Acceptance letters sent within two weeks of application**
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
Tuition (Estimated, 2011-12)	$4,110 (in-district), $6,900 (in-state), and $9,630 (out-of-state)*
Financial Aid Sources Available (Percent of Full-Time Beginning Students Receiving it)	Federal grants (55%), Pell grants (55%), other federal grants (20%), state/local grants or scholarships (31%), institutional grants or scholarships (6%), federal student loans (83%)*
Percent of Students Receiving Some Form of Aid (First-time, Full-Time Beginning Students)	84%*

Sources: *College Navigator, National Center for Education Statistics, **Reading Area Community College, ***IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics.

School Contact Information

Address: 10 South Second Street, Reading, PA 19603
Phone: (610) 372-4721
Website: www.raac.edu