PCT named ‘Opportunity College’ in Carnegie Classifications
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Pennsylvania College of Technology has been designated as an “Opportunity College and University” by the Carnegie Classifications, exemplifying how campuses can foster student success.
The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education.
This classification examines the extent to which institutions cultivate opportunities for student success by measuring whether they are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area.
In 2025, 479 institutions have been identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities – about 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.
The Carnegie Classifications have identified Pennsylvania College of Technology as one of the new Opportunity Colleges and Universities: higher-access, higher-earnings institutions that can serve as a model for fostering student success. The designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education.
“Being recognized by a highly respected foundation as an opportunity institution is validation for our extraordinary team, relevant approach and the overall value of a Penn College education,” said Penn College President Michael J. Reed. “Our graduates earn degrees in high-demand career fields, leading to jobs in essential occupations offering highly competitive compensation and long-term stability.”
The methodology for the new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities. More information about 2025 Student Access and Earnings Classifications, including the methodology, can be found online.
The Institutional Classification for Penn College, Special Focus: Applied and Career Studies, includes 323 institutions, representing 8% of U.S. colleges and universities in the Institutional Classification.
Penn College also ranks in the top five in return on investment among public institutions in Pennsylvania for associate and bachelor’s degrees in the 10-year period following graduation, according to the latest update from a Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce report.
And, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings, Penn College is the No. 1 school for innovation – and for veteran students – as well as the No. 3 top public school in the Regional Colleges (North) classification. The college is also the No. 5-ranked school among Regional Colleges (North) when all public and private colleges and universities are considered.
Penn College is a special mission affiliate of Penn State and a national leader in applied technology education. Email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.
About the Carnegie Classification
The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed the classification in 1973 to support its program of research and policy analysis, and it was updated in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2025 to reflect changes among colleges and universities. It will next be updated in 2028, with subsequent updates every three years.
About the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
The mission of the Carnegie Foundation is to catalyze transformational change in education so that every student has the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life. Enacted by an act of Congress in 1906, the Foundation has a rich history of driving transformational change in the education sector, including the establishment of TIAA-CREF and the creation of the Education Testing Service, the GRE, Pell Grants, and the Carnegie Classifications for Higher Education.
About the American Council on Education
ACE unites and leads higher education institutions toward a shared vision for the future. With more than 1,600 member colleges, universities and associations, ACE designs solutions for today’s challenges and advances public policy to support a diverse and dynamic higher education sector. Learn more at the ACE website or follow ACE on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn .