Passaic County Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Passaic County Community College charges a net price of $7,761/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $15,522. Median earnings ten years after entry are $36,972, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Passaic County Community College does not clear its cost — it ranks #58 of 78 New Jersey colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $7,761/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $15,522 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $36,972 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$11,388/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $7,536 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$243,282 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Passaic County Community College's own numbers. Net price $7,761 × 2 years = $15,522 total. Median earnings $36,972 fall $11,388 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $15,522 bill in about 1.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Passaic County Community College students graduate with?
A median $7,536 in federal loans among completers, or 20% of the $36,972 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Passaic County Community College students graduate?
19% finish their degree — 81% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $15,522 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $81,695 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Passaic County Community College expensive compared with other New Jersey colleges?
Its $7,761 net price runs $12,657 below the $20,418 median across the 78 New Jersey colleges we profile, and $25,313 less across the full degree.