Bergen Community College vs Ocean County Vocational-Technical School: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bergen Community College comes closer — median earnings $46,624 against a $20,690 total, vs $47,122 at Ocean County Vocational-Technical School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bergen Community College | Ocean County Vocational-Technical School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,345 | $10,828 |
| Total net cost | $20,690 | $43,312 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,624 | $47,122 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $5,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$55,410 | -$68,072 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bergen Community College or Ocean County Vocational-Technical School?
Bergen Community College, at $10,345 a year after aid versus $10,828 — a gap of $483 a year, or $22,622 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bergen Community College or Ocean County Vocational-Technical School graduates earn more?
Ocean County Vocational-Technical School graduates report a median $47,122 ten years after entry, $498 more than the $46,624 at Bergen 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, Bergen Community College or Ocean County Vocational-Technical School?
Ocean County Vocational-Technical School: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Bergen Community College, a difference of $6,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Ocean County Vocational-Technical School, against 21% at Bergen 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.