Bergen Community College vs UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey: 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 $41,595 at UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bergen Community College | UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,345 | $8,257 |
| Total net cost | $20,690 | $16,514 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,624 | $41,595 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $15,091 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$55,410 | -$151,814 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bergen Community College or UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey?
UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey, at $8,257 a year after aid versus $10,345 — a gap of $2,088 a year, or $4,176 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 UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey graduates earn more?
Bergen Community College graduates report a median $46,624 ten years after entry, $5,029 more than the $41,595 at UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey. 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 UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey?
Bergen Community College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $15,091 at UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey, a difference of $3,091. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
35% of students finish at UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey, 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.