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Atlantic Cape Community College vs Pennco Tech-Blackwood: which has better ROI?

Public, Mays Landing NJ · vs · Private for-profit, Blackwood NJ

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pennco Tech-Blackwood comes closer — median earnings $42,013 against a $90,684 total, vs $34,241 at Atlantic Cape Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAtlantic Cape Community CollegePennco Tech-Blackwood
Net price / yr$8,392$22,671
Total net cost$16,784$90,684
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,241$42,013
Median debt$9,500$8,331
Payback
20-year net return-$299,164-$217,624

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Atlantic Cape Community College or Pennco Tech-Blackwood?

Atlantic Cape Community College, at $8,392 a year after aid versus $22,671 — a gap of $14,279 a year, or $73,900 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Atlantic Cape Community College or Pennco Tech-Blackwood graduates earn more?

Pennco Tech-Blackwood graduates report a median $42,013 ten years after entry, $7,772 more than the $34,241 at Atlantic Cape Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which leaves students with less debt, Atlantic Cape Community College or Pennco Tech-Blackwood?

Pennco Tech-Blackwood: its completers carry a median $8,331 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Atlantic Cape Community College, a difference of $1,169. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

72% of students finish at Pennco Tech-Blackwood, against 30% at Atlantic Cape Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Atlantic Cape Community College vs Pennco Tech-Blackwood: frequently asked questions

Is Atlantic Cape Community College or Pennco Tech-Blackwood a better value?
Pennco Tech-Blackwood comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Atlantic Cape Community College or Pennco Tech-Blackwood?
Atlantic Cape Community College: $8,392/yr net price after aid versus $22,671/yr at Pennco Tech-Blackwood — a difference of $14,279 a year, or about $73,900 over four years.
Do Atlantic Cape Community College or Pennco Tech-Blackwood graduates earn more?
Pennco Tech-Blackwood graduates earn a median $42,013 ten years after entry, versus $34,241 at Atlantic Cape Community College — a $7,772 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.