Sussex County Community College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Sussex County Community College charges a net price of $7,859/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $15,718. Median earnings ten years after entry are $44,664, 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, Sussex County Community College does not clear its cost — it ranks #42 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) | $7,859/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $15,718 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $44,664 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$3,696/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$89,638 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Sussex County Community College's own numbers. Net price $7,859 × 2 years = $15,718 total. Median earnings $44,664 fall $3,696 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 $15,718 bill in about 1.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Sussex County Community College students graduate with?
A median $11,000 in federal loans among completers, or 25% of the $44,664 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Sussex County Community College students graduate?
37% finish their degree — 63% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $15,718 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $42,481 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Sussex County Community College expensive compared with other New Jersey colleges?
Its $7,859 net price runs $12,559 below the $20,418 median across the 78 New Jersey colleges we profile, and $25,117 less across the full degree.