NJC vs. Red Rocks Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, CO with Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, CO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Red Rocks Community College is larger than NJC based on total student enrollment (8,419 students vs. 1,684 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northeastern Junior College is located in Sterling, CO (Remote Town setting); Red Rocks Community College is in Lakewood, CO (Large Suburban setting).
• Northeastern Junior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Red Rocks Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern Junior College 18:1; Red Rocks Community College 28:1.

NJC vs. Red Rocks Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NJC or Red Rocks 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 Red Rocks Community College than NJC ($8,478 vs. $14,762).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern Junior College are 51% lower than at Red Rocks Community College ($8,228 vs. $16,785).
• Northeastern Junior College is 17.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Red Rocks Community College (about $871 more per year; $5,730.00 vs. $4,859.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 111.2% higher at Red Rocks Community College than at Northeastern Junior College (about $9,192 more per year; $17,459.00 vs. $8,267.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern Junior College than at Red Rocks Community College (82% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Red Rocks Community College students is 124.4% larger than aid received by Northeastern Junior College students ($14,333 vs. $6,388).

NJC vs. Red Rocks Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NJC or Red Rocks 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 Red Rocks Community College 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; Red Rocks Community College - Open admission.

NJC vs. Red Rocks Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NJC and Red Rocks 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 Red Rocks Community College earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than NJC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,900 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Red Rocks Community College graduates have a $428 lower median loan debt than NJC graduates ($9,072 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Red Rocks Community College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NJC graduates ($93 vs. $98).
• More NJC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Red Rocks Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.