Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

What Pennsylvania Highlands Community College does

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a public two-year community college founded in 1994 and headquartered in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, serving western and central Pennsylvania through seven campus locations including the Richland Campus (headquarters), Blair Center, Centre County, Ebensburg Center, Huntingdon Center, Somerset Center, and the Center for Culinary Excellence in downtown Johnstown. The institution delivers associate degrees (A.A.S., A.A., A.S.), certificates, diplomas, dual enrollment for high school students, online programming through Penn Highlands Online, and specialized workforce training including a Police Academy and an Institute for Cyber Security.

The college's core technology infrastructure is built on standard third-party educational platforms: Brightspace serves as the learning management system for course delivery, and myPEAK functions as the student portal for academic records and registration. No proprietary technology systems, AI/ML capabilities, or differentiated technical assets are referenced in source materials. The product portfolio spans eight academic pathways including Business & Communication, Computer Information Sciences, Education, Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Social Sciences & Criminal Justice, and Hospitality & Technical Studies, with a 2026 expansion into a Pre-Health Professions: Dental Hygiene Diploma co-developed with the University of Pittsburgh.

The revenue model is multi-stream: tuition and comprehensive fees for credit-bearing courses, $2.94 million in annual grant aid flowing through federal and state financial aid programs, and public funding from Cambria County and Pennsylvania state appropriations. Pricing follows a subscription-style per-credit structure, with a 2026 last-dollar scholarship (the Cambria County Smart Start Promise Program) covering 100% of tuition and fees for up to 30 first-year credits for recent Cambria County high school graduates. The college is governed by a Board of Trustees with 12 members appointed by Cambria County Commissioners, and the institution holds Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation. Customer segments span recent high school graduates, adult learners, workforce-bound students, transfer students, high school dual enrollees, and veterans, with no enterprise customer concentration.

Name

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

Legal name

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

Website

https://pennhighlands.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a public two-year community college founded in 1994 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, delivering associate degrees, certificates, diplomas, dual enrollment, and workforce training to western and central Pennsylvania residents across seven campus locations and online.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Community College

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (611210), Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK), Dual Enrollment / Early College Programs (via Community Colleges) (EDAHADAH)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce training certificates
• Dual enrollment pathways
• Online higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Johnstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Comprehensive Fees: The college charges tuition and comprehensive fees for credit-bearing courses. The Cambria County Smart Start Promise Program covers 100% of tuition and comprehensive fees for up to 30 credits during the first year for eligible recent Cambria County high school graduates.
2. Financial Aid and Grants: $2.94 million awarded to students in grant aid, with 74% of students with financial need receiving grants. Revenue flows through federal and state financial aid programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College delivers two-year higher education through associate degrees (A.A.S., A.A., A.S.), certificates, and diplomas across academic pathways including Business, Computer Information Sciences, Education, Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Social Sciences & Criminal Justice, and Hospitality & Technical Studies. Programs are offered in-person at seven regional locations, online via Penn Highlands Online, and through dual enrollment for high school students. Specialized offerings include the Police Academy, Culinary Arts (Center for Culinary Excellence), Institute for Cyber Security, and the new Pre-Health Professions: Dental Hygiene Diploma.

Product overview

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services centered around its core academic programs. The institution provides Associate Degrees (A.A.S., A.A., A.S.) across eight academic pathways including Business & Communication, Computer Information Sciences, Education, Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Social Sciences & Criminal Justice, and Hospitality & Technical Studies. Supporting programs include Workforce-Bound A.A.S. degrees and Certificates/Diplomas for career-focused training, Penn Highlands Online for remote learning, and specialized programs including the Institute For Cyber Security and Police Academy. The college also serves high school students through Dual Enrollment pathways and offers an Honors Program for high-achieving students. Key student-facing technology platforms include the myPEAK student portal and Brightspace learning management system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate Degrees Two-year associate degree programs (A.A.S., A.A., A.S.) across academic pathways including Business, Computer Information Sciences, Education, Health Professions, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Social Sciences & Criminal Justice, and Hospitality & Technical Studies, designed for transfer and workforce entry.
• Certificates and Diplomas Short-term certificate and diploma programs for quick skill acquisition and career entry or advancement, spanning business, technology, healthcare, culinary arts, and criminal justice.
• Penn Highlands Online Online learning platform offering remote access to college courses and programs for distance learners who prefer or require remote learning options.
• High School Dual Enrollment Pathways Dual Enrollment (ACE) and Associate in High School programs that allow high school students to earn college credits while still enrolled in high school.
• Honors Program Academic enrichment program for high-achieving students seeking enhanced educational experiences.
• Institute for Cyber Security Specialized institute offering cyber security education and training programs at certificate and degree levels.
• Police Academy Comprehensive law enforcement training program with 919 hours of instruction covering constitutional law, ethics, de-escalation, criminal law, defensive tactics, firearms, and emergency vehicle operations.
• Pre-Health Professions: Dental Hygiene Diploma 32-credit diploma program designed as a pipeline into the University of Pittsburgh's Regional Training Center-Hybrid Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree Track.
• Cambria County Smart Start Promise Program Pilot scholarship program providing 100% tuition and comprehensive fee coverage for up to 30 college credits during the first year for recent Cambria County high school graduates through a last-dollar scholarship.
• Culinary Arts A.A.S. Degree Associate of Applied Science degree combining hands-on culinary training with business management skills, including a 405-hour supervised internship and training in baking, pastry, and advanced cooking techniques.
• Workforce-Bound A.A.S. Degrees Career-focused Associate of Applied Science degrees in fields including Accounting, Business Management, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Cyber Security, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Medical Coding & Billing, Paralegal Studies, Paramedic, Surgical Technology, and Radiologic Technology.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.94 million awarded to students in grant aid; 74% of students with financial need receive grants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Pittsburgh (Pitt)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with Pitt's Regional Training Center for Dental Hygiene. Penn Highlands developed a 32-credit Pre-Health Professions: Dental Hygiene Diploma to serve as a pipeline into Pitt's new Hybrid Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene Degree Track launching Fall 2027. College faculty worked closely with Pitt program leadership to design curriculum and course sequence ensuring alignment with prerequisites and industry standards.
• Somerset County Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer partner providing internship opportunities for students. Graduate Hind Achouri completed a summer internship before being hired full-time as Marketing & Communication Specialist.
• Cambria County CommissionerscoreOthersThe Cambria County Commissioners appoint 12 members to the Board of Trustees. The college is the primary provider of higher education services in Cambria County.
• Regional Police DepartmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolice Academy graduates receive conditional employment offers from local departments including Somerset Borough Police Department, Geistown Borough Police Department, Indian Lake Police Department, Ferndale Borough Police Department, Conemaugh Township Police Department, Altoona Police Department, and Pitt-Johnstown Campus Police.
• Four-Year Transfer Partner InstitutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransfer agreements with over 20 universities including: Mount Aloysius College, Saint Francis University, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Bloomsburg University, California University of Pennsylvania, Carlow University, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro University, IUP, Juniata College, Lock Haven University, Kutztown University, Millersville University, Robert Morris University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University, West Chester University, and others. Over 30 student-athletes have transferred to four-year institutions since 2010.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Montgomery County Community College: Pennsylvania public community college with multiple campuses offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, workforce training, and dual enrollment — a comparable two-year public institution operating at similar scale.
• Westmoreland County Community College: Public two-year community college in western Pennsylvania with multiple locations offering associate degrees, workforce certificates, and dual enrollment — directly comparable mission, geography, and program mix.
• Lehigh Carbon Community College: Pennsylvania public community college offering associate degrees, certificates, dual enrollment, and online learning — directly comparable institution at similar scale in a different PA region.
• Butler County Community College: Pennsylvania public community college with main campus plus satellite centers, offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce training — closely comparable regional two-year public institution.
• Community College of Allegheny County: Large public community college in the greater Pittsburgh region offering associate degrees, certificates, transfer pathways, and workforce training — directly comparable two-year public institution serving an overlapping western Pennsylvania market.
• HACC (Harrisburg Area Community College): One of the largest community colleges in Pennsylvania with multiple campuses, extensive online offerings, and broad workforce programming — a direct peer at greater scale across central PA.

Others

• University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown: Regional four-year Pitt campus in Johnstown with formal transfer and police-academy hiring ties to Penn Highlands; comparable as a four-year transfer destination serving the same geographic market.
• Saint Francis University: Regional four-year Catholic university in Loretto, PA with active transfer partnership with Penn Highlands; comparable as a four-year transfer destination and competitor for undergraduate students in the region.
• Mount Aloysius College: Small Catholic college in Cresson, PA with formal transfer partnership with Penn Highlands; comparable as a regional four-year institution accepting Penn Highlands credits and competing for similar students.
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania state system university with deep transfer relationship with Penn Highlands; comparable as a four-year transfer destination and as an operator of credit-bearing programs serving overlapping regional students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PennHighlands
• YouTubeyoutube.com/PennHighlands
• Facebookfacebook.com/53639895451
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennsylvania-highlands-community-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/pennhighlands

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Highlands Community College