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Reading Area Community College
Reading, Pennsylvania · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 10 S Second St, Reading, PA 19603 · Phone: (610) 372-4721 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Reading Area Community College is a public trade and career school in Reading, PA offering electrician, medical billing & coding, and LPN programs, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Reading Area Community College's completion rate is 33.6%, below the state average of 66.2%; median graduate debt is $8,750 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,082.
Cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data, but Reading Area Community College accepts federal financial aid, and about 34.7% of its students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | $45,600 | $67,600 | $95,500 |
| Medical records specialists | $37,490 | $46,840 | $60,510 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $51,500 | $63,940 | $72,810 |
| Machinists | $39,620 | $57,810 | $63,700 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $39,040 | $63,860 | $81,790 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Pennsylvania (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 19 | $114,014 | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | $47,260 | $14,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Reading Area Community College is a public, Title IV-eligible community college in Reading, Pennsylvania, located in a small city. It carries accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and, for its nursing programs, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Across six program families the campus most frequently awards credentials in electrician schools (19 completions), medical billing & coding programs (8), and LPN/LVN programs (4).
Federal data shows a completion rate of 33.6%, below the state average of 66.2% for comparable programs. Median debt for graduates is reported at $8,750, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,082. About 34.7% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus may suit students pursuing shorter, trade-focused credentials such as electrician training, medical billing & coding, or LPN programs rather than longer associate-degree pathways, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Career changers considering enrollment should independently verify accreditation status through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and review current outcome data on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before applying, since figures can change year to year and not every program is captured in this summary.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Reading Area Community College offers programs across six families, most notably electrician schools, medical billing & coding, and LPN/LVN programs, plus CNC machining and culinary programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes. The school is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, with nursing programs also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, and about 34.7% of its students receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 33.6%, which is below the Pennsylvania state average of 66.2% for similar programs.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates is reported at $8,750 per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $39,082 per the College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition and fees.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public community college, which typically means lower published tuition and public funding oversight compared to for-profit institutions.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school at (610) 372-4721 or visit racc.edu for program duration details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and review official outcome data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?215585.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The mix of shorter trade credentials like electrician training and medical billing & coding, alongside LPN programs, may suit career changers, though specific scheduling and program-length details are not reported here.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements, such as those for LPN graduates, are not detailed in this data; contact the school directly to confirm certification and licensure requirements for each program.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Reading Area Community College at (610) 372-4721 or through its website at https://www.racc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data for nearby schools is not included here; use the College Scorecard link to compare completion rates, debt, and earnings across institutions.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.