Atlantic Cape Community College vs Salem Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Salem Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,020 against a $21,632 total, vs $34,241 at Atlantic Cape Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Atlantic Cape Community College | Salem Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,392 | $10,816 |
| Total net cost | $16,784 | $21,632 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,241 | $38,020 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$299,164 | -$228,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Atlantic Cape Community College or Salem Community College?
Atlantic Cape Community College, at $8,392 a year after aid versus $10,816 — a gap of $2,424 a year, or $4,848 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 Salem Community College graduates earn more?
Salem Community College graduates report a median $38,020 ten years after entry, $3,779 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 Salem Community College?
Completers at both borrow a median $9,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
40% of students finish at Salem Community College, 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.