Mercer County Community College vs. SCC

Comparable Facts

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

Mercer County Community College is larger than SCC based on total student enrollment (6,394 students vs. 1,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mercer County Community College is located in West Windsor, NJ (Rural Fringe setting); Salem Community College is in Carneys Point, NJ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Mercer County Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Salem Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercer County Community College 16:1; Salem Community College 17:1.

Mercer County Community College vs. SCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer County Community College or SCC? 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 SCC ($5,475 vs. $10,462).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer County Community College are 4% lower than at Salem Community College ($9,600 vs. $10,000).
• Mercer County Community College is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCC (about $426 more per year; $7,806.00 vs. $7,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.8% higher at SCC than at Mercer County Community College (about $1,086 more per year; $10,260.00 vs. $9,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salem Community College than at Mercer County Community College (63% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Salem Community College students is 0% larger than aid received by Mercer County Community College students ($6,792 vs. $6,791).

Mercer County Community College vs. SCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercer County Community College or SCC? 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 SCC and Mercer County Community College.

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

Mercer County Community College vs. SCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercer County Community College and SCC? 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 $7,700 more per year than SCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $30,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More SCC 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.