New Jersey Institute of Technology vs Essex County College: which has better ROI?
New Jersey Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $66,016 in 1.8 years versus not at all at Essex County College, on median earnings of $84,276 vs $37,230 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Essex County College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,504 | $4,436 |
| Total net cost | $66,016 | $8,872 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,276 | $37,230 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | — |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $652,304 | -$231,472 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, New Jersey Institute of Technology or Essex County College?
Essex County College, at $4,436 a year after aid versus $16,504 — a gap of $12,068 a year, or $57,144 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do New Jersey Institute of Technology or Essex County College graduates earn more?
New Jersey Institute of Technology graduates report a median $84,276 ten years after entry, $47,046 more than the $37,230 at Essex County 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 graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at New Jersey Institute of Technology, against 20% at Essex County 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.