Bergen Community College vs. Essex County College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ with Essex County College in Newark, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bergen Community College is larger than Essex County College based on total student enrollment (11,720 students vs. 7,026 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bergen Community College is located in Paramus, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Essex County College is in Newark, NJ (Large City setting).
• Bergen Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Essex County College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bergen Community College 18:1; Essex County College 26:1.

Bergen Community College vs. Essex County College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bergen Community College or Essex County College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Essex County College than Bergen Community College ($4,971 vs. $9,973).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Essex County College are 27% lower than at Bergen Community College ($10,500 vs. $14,374).
• Essex County College is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bergen Community College (about $629 more per year; $9,523.00 vs. $8,894.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.5% higher at Essex County College than at Bergen Community College (about $229 more per year; $9,523.00 vs. $9,294.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Essex County College than at Bergen Community College (77% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Essex County College students is 12.2% larger than aid received by Bergen Community College students ($7,377 vs. $6,574).

Bergen Community College vs. Essex County College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bergen Community College or Essex County College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Essex County College and Bergen Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bergen Community College - Open admission; Essex County College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Essex County College Aug 24, 2027.

Bergen Community College vs. Essex County College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bergen Community College and Essex County College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Bergen Community College earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than Essex County College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.