Welcome Letter from the President

Welcome to Community College of Philadelphia, the largest public institution of higher education in the city. Here, student success is our first commitment. The College mission statement highlights our promise to provide a warm and supportive environment in which you may gain a high quality education. The Catalog is your personal guidebook. It will help you to map out your academic path. Please take the time to read the Catalog, and bookmark it. Remember, our faculty and staff are here because you are. They are a resource that you can draw upon for assistance and support. Your success is our success.

Fast Facts

Community College of Philadelphia, the city’s only community college, is also its largest public institution of higher education. Since its foundation in 1964, more than 596,000 Philadelphians have enrolled at the College.

• The College offers more than 70 associate’s degree, certificate and proficiency certificate programs. These programs can lead to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program, the obtaining of a new career, improvement in a current career and personal enrichment.
• Of our more than 460 full-time, talented faculty, many have Ph.D.s, numerous publications to their credit, and active professional and community ties.
• Our class sizes are small, averaging less than 23 students. This means personal attention from our experienced faculty.
• Our students come from a variety of backgrounds—some come to the College directly out of high school, others are currently employed and attending part-time and others have not attended school for a number of years.
• The College’s Main Campus is a 14-acre complex near Center City in the Art Museum area. In addition, there are three Regional Centers in Northeast, West and Northwest Philadelphia, plus a network of neighborhood and corporate sites. Our diverse locations throughout the city help us better serve our more than 39,000 students.
• Students enrolled in credit courses at the Main Campus, Regional Centers and neighborhood sites are eligible to participate in the life of Community College of Philadelphia. Every student may apply for student scholarships, utilize our extensive support services, partake in our stimulating array of College-sponsored events and share in our student activities. All are welcome to participate in our programs, services, and curricular and cocurricular activities. Students are encouraged to make use of the services and activities at the Main Campus and all other College facilities.
• The College operates through a partnership between the city of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its students. Under this partnership, each partner funds a share of the College’s costs.

Education at the College is education for success. Our graduates choose to enter or continue in the job market, and more than half of our graduates transfer to baccalaureate programs at four-year colleges or universities immediately after graduation.

Community College of Philadelphia plays an important role in the city. Our success is best summed up in the words of many of our graduates: "If it weren’t for the College, I wouldn’t be where I am today."

Accreditation

Community College of Philadelphia is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It is also approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.