NJC vs. OJC

Deciding between Northeastern Junior College and Otero College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NJC Sterling, CO
  • OJC La Junta, CO
  • Setting
  • NJC Remote Town
  • OJC Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • NJC 1,684
  • OJC 959
  • Type
  • NJC Public 2 Year
  • OJC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NJC
  • OJC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NJC -
  • OJC -
  • Status
  • NJC Non-profit
  • OJC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NJC
  • OJC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NJC $5,730
  • OJC $4,576
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NJC $8,267
  • OJC $7,286
  • Room & Board
  • NJC $8,228
  • OJC $9,280
  • Average Net Price
  • NJC $14,762
  • OJC $12,006
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NJC $6,388
  • OJC $10,305
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NJC 82%
  • OJC 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NJC -
  • OJC -
  • Admitted
  • NJC -
  • OJC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NJC Open
  • OJC Open
  • Enrolled
  • NJC Open
  • OJC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • NJC
  • OJC
  • Typical ACT score
  • NJC
  • OJC
  • Average High School GPA
  • NJC 3.12
  • OJC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NJC B
  • OJC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • NJC Unavailable
  • OJC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • NJC
  • OJC
  • ACT Range
  • NJC
  • OJC
  • SAT Range
  • NJC
  • OJC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NJC Open admission
  • OJC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • NJC
  • OJC Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NJC 18:1
  • OJC 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NJC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (52%)
    • Agriculture (16%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (8%)
    • Personal and Culinary Services (3%)
  • OJC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (30%)
    • Health Professions (29%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Agriculture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NJC -
  • OJC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NJC $35,700
  • OJC $31,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NJC 47%
  • OJC 35%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NJC $9,500
  • OJC $7,396
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NJC $98
  • OJC $76

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NJC 36%
  • OJC 41%
  • % Women
  • NJC 64%
  • OJC 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NJC Medium
  • OJC High
  • HBCU
  • NJC No
  • OJC No
  • % White
  • NJC 69%
  • OJC 52%
  • % Asian
  • NJC 0%
  • OJC 0%
  • % Black
  • NJC 6%
  • OJC 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • NJC 13%
  • OJC 27%
  • % Native American
  • NJC 1%
  • OJC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NJC 0%
  • OJC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NJC 3%
  • OJC 4%
  • % International
  • NJC 2%
  • OJC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NJC 5%
  • OJC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NJC 82%
  • OJC 71%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NJC 11%
  • OJC 14%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • NJC Yes
  • OJC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • NJC No
  • OJC No
  • Meal Plan
  • NJC Yes
  • OJC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • NJC Yes
  • OJC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • NJC No
  • OJC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, CO with Otero College in La Junta, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern Junior College is larger than OJC based on total student enrollment (1,684 students vs. 959 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern Junior College is located in Sterling, CO (Remote Town setting); Otero College is in La Junta, CO (Remote Town setting).
  • Northeastern Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Otero College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern Junior College 18:1; Otero College 14:1.

NJC vs. OJC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NJC or OJC? 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 Otero College than NJC ($12,006 vs. $14,762).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern Junior College are 11.3% lower than at Otero College ($8,228 vs. $9,280).
  • Northeastern Junior College is 25.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than OJC (about $1,154 more per year; $5,730.00 vs. $4,576.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.5% higher at NJC than at Otero College (about $981 more per year; $8,267.00 vs. $7,286.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Otero College than at Northeastern Junior College (92% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Otero College students is 61.3% larger than aid received by Northeastern Junior College students ($10,305 vs. $6,388).

NJC vs. OJC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NJC or OJC? 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 OJC and NJC.

  • Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NJC - Open admission; OJC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OJC Aug 15, 2027.

NJC vs. OJC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NJC and OJC? 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 Northeastern Junior College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than OJC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,700 vs. $31,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Otero College graduates have a $2,104 lower median loan debt than NJC graduates ($7,396 vs. $9,500).
  • Among borrowers, OJC graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NJC graduates ($76 vs. $98).
  • More NJC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OJC students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 35%)

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.