SCC vs. RVCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Salem Community College in Carneys Point, NJ with Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Raritan Valley Community College is larger than SCC based on total student enrollment (6,762 students vs. 1,135 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Salem Community College is located in Carneys Point, NJ (Rural Fringe setting); Raritan Valley Community College is in Branchburg, NJ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Salem Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Raritan Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Salem Community College 17:1; Raritan Valley Community College 19:1.

SCC vs. RVCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCC or RVCC? 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 Raritan Valley Community College than SCC ($7,008 vs. $10,462).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem Community College are 16.7% lower than at Raritan Valley Community College ($10,000 vs. $12,000).
• Raritan Valley Community College is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCC (about $204 more per year; $7,584.00 vs. $7,380.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35.3% higher at SCC than at Raritan Valley Community College (about $2,676 more per year; $10,260.00 vs. $7,584.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salem Community College than at Raritan Valley Community College (63% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Salem Community College students is 2.8% larger than aid received by Raritan Valley Community College students ($6,792 vs. $6,605).

SCC vs. RVCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCC or RVCC? 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 RVCC and SCC.

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

SCC vs. RVCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCC and RVCC? 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 Raritan Valley Community College earn a median of about $12,000 more per year than SCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $30,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Raritan Valley Community College graduates have a $1,125 lower median loan debt than SCC graduates ($9,000 vs. $10,125).
• Among borrowers, RVCC graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCC graduates ($93 vs. $104).
• More RVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCC students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 49%)

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.