Bergen Community College vs Passaic County Community College: 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 $36,972 at Passaic County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bergen Community College | Passaic County Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,345 | $7,761 |
| Total net cost | $20,690 | $15,522 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,624 | $36,972 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $7,536 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$55,410 | -$243,282 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bergen Community College or Passaic County Community College?
Passaic County Community College, at $7,761 a year after aid versus $10,345 — a gap of $2,584 a year, or $5,168 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 Passaic County Community College graduates earn more?
Bergen Community College graduates report a median $46,624 ten years after entry, $9,652 more than the $36,972 at Passaic County 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 Passaic County Community College?
Passaic County Community College: its completers carry a median $7,536 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Bergen Community College, a difference of $4,464. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
21% of students finish at Bergen Community College, against 19% at Passaic County 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.