Essex County College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Newark, New Jersey. It enrolls 5,855 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes12
Value90
Affordability77
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Essex County College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Essex County College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $4,436 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$4,436
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,415
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,523
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,500
Books & Supplies
$2,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,266
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,506
Application fee: $30 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$3,792
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,562
$48,001 – $75,000
$6,135
$75,001 – $110,000
$7,345
Over $110,000
$9,647
What this means:
Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 47% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.
Graduation Rate & Retention
19% of full-time students who enrolled at Essex County College graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
19%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
57%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Essex County College earn a median of $37,230 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$37,230
Earning > $25K
60%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$32,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$37,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $5,200, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$8.4 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Essex County College is home to 5,855 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 57% are first-generation college students, 48% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
5,855
Part-Time
48%
First-Generation
57%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 45.2%2,647
Hispanic 27.6%1,615
International 13.6%794
White 5.9%348
Asian 2.3%135
Other 1.6%91
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Essex County College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityNewark, New Jersey
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)
What You Can Study
Essex County College offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
16 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Essex County College is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
24:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,979
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,378
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
83 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
16
19%
$99,139
Associate Professors
20
24%
$72,867
Assistant Professors
26
31%
$56,197
Instructors
18
22%
$52,085
Lecturers
3
4%
$50,058
Pros & Cons of Essex County College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Essex County College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Essex County College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Essex County College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Essex County College.
Is Essex County College hard to get into?
Essex County College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Essex County College?
Essex County College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Essex County College cost?
The average net price after aid at Essex County College is $4,436 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Essex County College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $37,230 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $4,436 per year. That's roughly 8.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Essex County College known for?
Essex County College is best known for its programs in Health/Medical Preparatory, Liberal Arts, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Essex County College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Essex County College are $37,230, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Essex County College accredited?
Yes. Essex County College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Essex County College?
Essex County College enrolls 5,855 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Essex County College?
Essex County College graduates 19% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Essex County College a public or private college?
Essex County College is a Public institution.
Where is Essex County College located?
Essex County College is located in Newark, New Jersey.
What programs does Essex County College offer?
Essex County College offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Health/Medical Preparatory, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Essex County College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Essex County College is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in New Jersey
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