Bergen Community College vs. Mercer County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Bergen Community College is larger than Mercer County Community College based on total student enrollment (11,720 students vs. 6,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bergen Community College is located in Paramus, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Mercer County Community College is in West Windsor, NJ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bergen Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mercer County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bergen Community College 18:1; Mercer County Community College 16:1.

Bergen Community College vs. Mercer County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bergen Community College or Mercer County Community 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 Mercer County Community College than Bergen Community College ($5,475 vs. $9,973).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer County Community College are 33.2% lower than at Bergen Community College ($9,600 vs. $14,374).
• Bergen Community College is 13.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercer County Community College (about $1,088 more per year; $8,894.00 vs. $7,806.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Bergen Community College than at Mercer County Community College (about $120 more per year; $9,294.00 vs. $9,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bergen Community College than at Mercer County Community College (66% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer County Community College students is 3.3% larger than aid received by Bergen Community College students ($6,791 vs. $6,574).

Bergen Community College vs. Mercer County Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bergen Community College or Mercer County Community 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 Mercer County Community 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; Mercer County Community College - Open admission.

Bergen Community College vs. Mercer County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bergen Community College and Mercer County Community 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 $2,300 more per year than Mercer County Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Bergen Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer County Community College students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 39%)

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.