HCCC vs. Mercer County Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Hudson County Community College is larger than Mercer County Community College based on total student enrollment (7,763 students vs. 6,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hudson County Community College is located in Jersey City, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Mercer County Community College is in West Windsor, NJ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Hudson County 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: Hudson County Community College 21:1; Mercer County Community College 16:1.

HCCC vs. Mercer County Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HCCC 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 HCCC ($5,475 vs. $7,528).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer County Community College are 27.9% lower than at Hudson County Community College ($9,600 vs. $13,324).
• Hudson County Community College is 18.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercer County Community College (about $1,442 more per year; $9,248.00 vs. $7,806.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at HCCC than at Mercer County Community College (about $74 more per year; $9,248.00 vs. $9,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hudson County Community College than at Mercer County Community College (77% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hudson County Community College students is 17.4% larger than aid received by Mercer County Community College students ($7,973 vs. $6,791).

HCCC vs. Mercer County Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HCCC 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 HCCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HCCC - Open admission; Mercer County Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: HCCC Sep 1, 2026.

HCCC vs. Mercer County Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HCCC 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 $5,400 more per year than HCCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $32,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More HCCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer County Community College students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.