Douglas Education Center Photo #7 - A career in the business field has endless opportunities. A career in the business field can evolve into your own empire. A career in the business field is a career in determination. In the business program at DEC, you will be given the tools to work in many different sectors of business. You will gain advanced knowledge in technology, software, and networking skills. You are an entrepreneur. You are self-motivated and have great attention to detail. You are proactive and strong-minded. You are the next great business professional and we want you.

Douglas Education Center

130 7th St
Monessen, PA 15062
Top Ranked (2025): View Rankings
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Douglas Education Center Photo #1 - Make your nightmares a reality. Bring your drawings to life. Take your imagination where it's never gone before. Join the hundreds of students from all over the country who have embarked on the journey that is... Tom Savini's Special Make-Up Effects Program. In sixteen months, you will work hand-in-hand with entertainment professionals as they prepare you for a life in special make-up effects. Industry superstars, Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger (co-owners of KNB Effects Group in California) have joined forces with this program, and they will share their knowledge and expertise with your during your time at DEC. You are intense and find beauty in all forms of art. You are passionate and want to perfect your craft. You imagine the impossible and then you create it. You are the next great special make-up effects artist and we want you.
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Douglas Education Center Photo #1 - Make your nightmares a reality. Bring your drawings to life. Take your imagination where it's never gone before. Join the hundreds of students from all over the country who have embarked on the journey that is... Tom Savini's Special Make-Up Effects Program. In sixteen months, you will work hand-in-hand with entertainment professionals as they prepare you for a life in special make-up effects. Industry superstars, Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger (co-owners of KNB Effects Group in California) have joined forces with this program, and they will share their knowledge and expertise with your during your time at DEC. You are intense and find beauty in all forms of art. You are passionate and want to perfect your craft. You imagine the impossible and then you create it. You are the next great special make-up effects artist and we want you.
Douglas Education Center Photo #2 - Welcome to DEC, a school that combines creative atmospheres, eclectic programs, world-class instructors, and students from all over the world into one. We believe in individuality, passion, dreams, and goals. We believe in hard work, determination, ambition, and success. When you begin your journey at DEC, you begin a life journey. And we're excited to walk with you every step of the way. Create Your Career at Douglas Education Center.
Douglas Education Center Photo #3 - Anything is possible in front of a green screen. Words on a page will become much more than just words on a page. Your stories can be told to the world at The Factory Digital Filmmaking Program at Douglas. You will join existing film students on the adventure of a lifetime. Enter a world of endless possibilities as your learn the art of filmmaking, and lend your talents to real-world projects. We will give you every opporunity we can to help you learn, work, and grow. You are the storyteller. You are the one who stays up until the wee hours of the morning editing. You are the one who brings our greatest fears, our greatest hopes, and our greatest loves to life. You are the next great filmmaker and we want you.
Douglas Education Center Photo #4 - Art is anything and everything that is always around us. Art is your creativity spilling over onto a piece of paper or a computer screen. Art is your way of expression and understanding. In the Graphic Design & Web Program you learn design fundamentals in a cutting-edge atmosphere. You also receive a Wacom Tablet and MAC laptop loaded with all the software you need to begin your journey as a designer. You are a digital dreamer and see the wave of the future. You love technology and the advances in the field. You are a visionary and an artist. You are the next great graphic designer and we want you.
Douglas Education Center Photo #5 - In Allan and Wilson's Digital Illustration Program you will discover many different techniques as you explore and find your niche in the industry. Whether your tool of choice is colored pencils, pens and ink, paint, or digital media, we want to work with you as your create your masterpieces. Featured instructor, Dorian Cleavenger, is an internationally-acclaimed fantasy artist that will work with you one-on-one to hone your skills. You see things that other people don't. You conceptualize and dream vivid images. You use your hands to show what's in your heart. You are the next great illustrator and we want you.
Douglas Education Center Photo #6 - Cosmetology is finding beauty in all people. You can transform someone with a snip of your scissors or a stroke of your brush. You give people the confidence to find their personal style and be happy in their own skin. The Cosmetology Programs at DEC give you many options to customize your career path. You will learn and work in our up-scale salon setting, and work on real clients through the student clinic. You are an artist without a paintbrush. You are a designer without a sewing machine. You have the power to make people beautiful. You are the next great cosmetologist and we want you.
Douglas Education Center Photo #7 - A career in the medical field is one of the most rewarding. A career in the medical field is always in demand. A career in the medical field is a career in caring. In the Medical Programs at DEC, you will learn from trained nurses with the most up-to-date equipment available. In your small classes, you will have individualized attention, just like the attention you will give your future patients. You put others first. You want to help people through good times and bad. You are dedicated and hardworking. You are the next great medical professional and we want you.
Douglas Education Center Photo #8 - A career in the business field has endless opportunities. A career in the business field can evolve into your own empire. A career in the business field is a career in determination. In the business program at DEC, you will be given the tools to work in many different sectors of business. You will gain advanced knowledge in technology, software, and networking skills. You are an entrepreneur. You are self-motivated and have great attention to detail. You are proactive and strong-minded. You are the next great business professional and we want you.
  • The mission of Douglas Education Center is twofold. Our first responsibility is to provide students with a quality education that will develop the attitudes, skills, and techniques necessary to enter and succeed in their chosen field of study. Our second responsibility is to provide prospective employers with well-trained personnel. The curricula of Douglas Education Center is designed to maintain high standards of performance upon which these future employers can depend. Douglas Education Center has the obligation to create an educational atmosphere that will not only foster the highest standards of excellence in all students, but also help these students develop an awareness of social responsibility and ethical behavior.

School Highlights

Douglas Education Center serves 361 students (99% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 6:1 is lower than the state community college average of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 23% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 48%.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 361 students
  • Private-state tuition: $17,746
  • Student:teacher ratio: 6:1
  • Minority enrollment: 23%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Douglas Education Center ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:

Category
Attribute
Completion Rates

School Overview

The teacher population of 58 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Douglas Education Center
(PA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Special Focus Two-Year: Arts & Design
Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or nondegree-granting)
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit
Total Faculty
58 staff
59 staff
School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of Douglas Education Center has grown by 73% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 6:1 has increased from 4:1 over five years.
The Douglas Education Center diversity score of 0.39 is less than the state average of 0.68. The school's diversity has grown by 43% over five years.
Total Enrollment
361 students
461 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
6:1
15:1
# Full-Time Students
359 students
325 students
# Part-Time Students
2 students
136 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
361 students
298 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
359 students
326 students
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
10 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
2 students
151 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
12 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
330 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
n/a
% Asian
n/a
5%
% Hispanic
7%
11%
% Black
9%
15%
% White
77%
52%
% Hawaiian
n/a
3%
% Two or more races
6%
3%
% Non Resident races
n/a
1%
% Unknown races
n/a
10%
Diversity Score
0.39
0.68
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
80%
60%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
36%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$23,700
$34,900

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The private state tuition of $17,746 is more than the state average of $17,231. The private state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
Private State Tuition Fees
$17,746
$17,231
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
82%
88%
Median Debt for Graduates
$12,000
$13,000
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,500
$6,260
Acceptance Rate
n/a
78%
SAT Reading
n/a
460
SAT Math
n/a
470
SAT Writing
n/a
435
ACT Composite
n/a
20
ACT English
n/a
20
ACT Math
n/a
21
ACT Writing
n/a
7
Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • Established in 1904, Douglas Education Center (DEC) is the premier creative career institution conveniently located in the Mid-Mon Valley. DEC offers programs in special make-up effects, digital film, illustration, graphic design and web, cosmetology, medical and business. In addition, this centrally located geographic area provides students with an environment rich in cultural heritage and many educational and recreational opportunities. Douglas offers a degree and/or certificate in Professional Business Technology, Health Information Technology, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing Clerk, Medical Transcription Specialist, Medical Unit Clerk, Allan and Wilson's Digital Illustration, Graphic Design and Web, Tom Savini's Special Make-Up Effects Program, The Factory Digital Filmmaking, Master Cosmetology, General Cosmetology, Cosmetology Teacher, Esthetician, and Esthetics and Nail Technology. The educational programs at DEC are oriented toward meeting the needs of its students by developing professionalism, leadership, and technical, interpersonal and communication skills. Douglas Education Center is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award Associate in specialized Business Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates. In 2009 DEC became an Honor Roll Institution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Douglas Education Center cost?
Douglas Education Center's private state tuition is approximately $17,746.
What is Douglas Education Center's ranking?
Douglas Education Center ranks among the top 20% of community college in Pennsylvania for: Highest completion rates.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 361 students
  • Private-state tuition: $17,746
  • Student:teacher ratio: 6:1
  • Minority enrollment: 23%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

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