LaGuardia vs. Rockland Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, NY with Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY LaGuardia Community College is larger than Rockland Community College based on total student enrollment (14,494 students vs. 5,364 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY LaGuardia Community College is located in Long Island City, NY (Large City setting); Rockland Community College is in Suffern, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• CUNY LaGuardia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Rockland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY LaGuardia Community College 19:1; Rockland Community College 20:1.

LaGuardia vs. Rockland Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LaGuardia or Rockland 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 CUNY LaGuardia Community College than Rockland Community College ($6,983 vs. $12,025).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rockland Community College are 43% lower than at CUNY LaGuardia Community College ($14,090 vs. $24,731).
• Rockland Community College is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than LaGuardia (about $1,644 more per year; $6,862.00 vs. $5,218.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at LaGuardia than at Rockland Community College (about $1,236 more per year; $8,098.00 vs. $6,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY LaGuardia Community College than at Rockland Community College (86% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rockland Community College students is 13.1% larger than aid received by CUNY LaGuardia Community College students ($7,236 vs. $6,396).

LaGuardia vs. Rockland Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LaGuardia or Rockland 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 Rockland Community College and LaGuardia.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LaGuardia - Open admission; Rockland Community College - Open admission.

LaGuardia vs. Rockland Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LaGuardia and Rockland 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 Rockland Community College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than LaGuardia graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY LaGuardia Community College graduates have a $3,339 lower median loan debt than Rockland Community College graduates ($5,500 vs. $8,839).
• Among borrowers, LaGuardia graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rockland Community College graduates ($56 vs. $91).
• More LaGuardia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rockland Community College students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 42%)

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.