Essex County College vs. Mercer County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Essex County College is larger than Mercer County Community College based on total student enrollment (7,026 students vs. 6,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Essex County College is located in Newark, NJ (Large City setting); Mercer County Community College is in West Windsor, NJ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Essex County 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: Essex County College 26:1; Mercer County Community College 16:1.

Essex County College vs. Mercer County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Essex County 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 Essex County College than Mercer County Community College ($4,971 vs. $5,475).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer County Community College are 8.6% lower than at Essex County College ($9,600 vs. $10,500).
• Essex County College is 22% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercer County Community College (about $1,717 more per year; $9,523.00 vs. $7,806.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at Essex County College than at Mercer County Community College (about $349 more per year; $9,523.00 vs. $9,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Essex County College than at Mercer County Community College (77% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Essex County College students is 8.6% larger than aid received by Mercer County Community College students ($7,377 vs. $6,791).

Essex County College vs. Mercer County Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Essex County 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 Essex County College.

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Essex County 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 Mercer County Community College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Essex County College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 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.