Peirce College

1608 Walnut St., Suite 1900
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Top-Ranked (2026-27): View Rankings

School Highlights

Peirce College serves 929 students (18% of students are full-time).
The college's student-teacher ratio of 30:1 is higher than the state community college average of 22:1.
Minority enrollment is 79% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the state average of 50%.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 929 students
  • Private-state tuition: $13,800
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Student-teacher ratio: 30:1
  • Minority enrollment: 79%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Top Rankings

Peirce College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Pennsylvania for:

School Overview

The teacher population of 31 teachers has declined by 79% over five years.
Peirce College
(PA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges
Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Institution Level
Four or more years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Private not-for-profit
Private not-for-profit
Year Founded
1865
Total Faculty
31 staff
28 staff
School Calendar
AccreditationAccred.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

Student Body

The student population of Peirce College has declined by 11% over five years.
The student-teacher ratio of 30:1 has increased from 8:1 over five years.
The Peirce College diversity score of 0.64 is less than the state average of 0.69. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
929 students
382 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Student-Teacher Ratio
30:1
22:1

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Full-Time Students
164 students
294 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Part-Time Students
765 students
88 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Enrollment Undergraduate
799 students
370 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
135 students
292 students

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

# Full-Time Graduate Students
29 students
14 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
664 students
88 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
101 students
9 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
n/a
% Asian
3%
4%

Showing 2008–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Hispanic
12%
12%

Showing 2010–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Black
54%
15%

Showing 2010–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% White
21%
50%

Showing 2010–2025. View full 19-year historical data

% Two or more races
1%
4%
% Unknown races
8%
14%
Diversity Score
0.64
0.69

Showing 2011–2025. View full 19-year historical data

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
5%
36%
Median Earnings 10 Years After Entry (measured in 2022-2023, in 2024 dollars)
$51,149
$48,611

Points are in the dollars of their own College Scorecard release, and the colleges behind the state line differ by period. The lines do not show inflation-adjusted growth.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The private state tuition of $13,800 is less than the state average of $17,466. The private state tuition has declined by 8% over four years.
Private State Tuition Fees
$13,800
$17,466
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
100%
89%

Showing 2012–2025. View full 19-year historical data

Median Debt for Graduates
$33,014
$13,310

Showing 2008–2020. View full 14-year historical data

Median Debt for Dropouts
$12,550
$6,297

Showing 2008–2020. View full 14-year historical data

Acceptance Rate
100%
75%
Source: 2025 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Peirce College is one of the oldest accredited colleges offering a complete online degree program in the United States. Peirce offers its practical business and information technology management degrees online. Our three pronged educational delivery system approach – on campus, on site, online – has advanced dramatically, even beyond our own healthy projections. On campus refers to our facilities in the Center City business district of Philadelphia dating back to 1865. On site encompasses our array of degree offerings at employer, community, and school locations. Peirce Online is our expanding Internet mediated distance learning (IMDL) platform offering complete, accredited degrees. This triad provides a very strong foundation for long-term regional, national, and international growth. Peirce has earned its exceptional reputation as a leading provider of quality academic programs and undergraduate degrees in the areas of business, information technology and paralegal studies. A premier choice among working adults, Peirce offers options to make learning more convenient, including our online degree program, accelerated evening & weekend formats and The Peirce Corporate College, where individuals can earn a degree at their workplace. The College is authorized by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to award the Bachelor of Science and Associate in Science degrees. Peirce College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Peirce College cost?
Peirce College's private state tuition is approximately $13,800.
What is the acceptance rate of Peirce College?
The acceptance rate of Peirce College is 100%, which is higher than the state average of 75%.
What is Peirce College's ranking?
Peirce College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Pennsylvania for: Average community college minority breakdown and Percent of students receiving financial aid.
In what neighborhood is Peirce College located?
Peirce College is located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA.

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Enrollment: 929 students
  • Private-state tuition: $13,800
  • Acceptance Rate: 100%
  • Student-teacher ratio: 30:1
  • Minority enrollment: 79%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

The average community college acceptance rate in Philadelphia County, PA is 66%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Philadelphia County, PA community colleges have a diversity score of 0.67, which is lower than the national average of 0.74. The most diverse community college in Philadelphia County, PA is Community College of Philadelphia. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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