Middlesex College vs Atlantic Cape Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Middlesex College comes closer — median earnings $46,861 against a $4,576 total, vs $34,241 at Atlantic Cape Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Middlesex College | Atlantic Cape Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,288 | $8,392 |
| Total net cost | $4,576 | $16,784 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,861 | $34,241 |
| Median debt | $9,750 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$34,556 | -$299,164 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Middlesex College or Atlantic Cape Community College?
Middlesex College, at $2,288 a year after aid versus $8,392 — a gap of $6,104 a year, or $12,208 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Middlesex College or Atlantic Cape Community College graduates earn more?
Middlesex College graduates report a median $46,861 ten years after entry, $12,620 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, Middlesex College or Atlantic Cape Community College?
Atlantic Cape Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $9,750 at Middlesex College, a difference of $250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at Middlesex 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.