Public Associate Good 69/100

Raritan Valley Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

Compare This College

Branchburg, New Jersey

About Raritan Valley Community College

Raritan Valley Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Branchburg, New Jersey. It enrolls 5,416 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.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
25.8%
Net Price
$6,778
Median Earnings (10yr)
$48,145
Enrollment
5,416
Student : Faculty
19:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar Semester

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
69/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 40
Value 84
Affordability 49
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Raritan Valley Community 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 Raritan Valley Community 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 $6,778 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$6,778
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
3%
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)
$5,664
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$7,584
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,000
Books & Supplies
$2,400
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,525
Total Cost of Attendance
$13,832

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
    $5,135
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $5,283
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $7,694
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $8,995
  • Over $110,000
    $13,368

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,500
10% percentile
$2,750
25% percentile
$10,500
Median percentile
$9,500
75% percentile
$15,191
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $6,175 ↓ $4,325
No Pell $5,826 ↓ $4,674
Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $5,000
Independent students $9,200 ↓ $1,300
Female students $6,500 ↓ $4,000
Male students $5,500 ↓ $5,000
Pell recipients: 16.0% (1,675 students)No Pell: 15.1% (1,581 students)Dependent students: 14.2% (1,492 students)Independent students: 23.8% (2,496 students)Female students: 16.8% (1,764 students)Male students: 14.2% (1,492 students)Overall Median$10,500
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

26% of full-time students who enrolled at Raritan Valley Community College graduate within six years, and 69% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
26%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
69%
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 Raritan Valley Community College earn a median of $48,145 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,145
Earning > $25K
73%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$38,000$41,000$44,000$47,000$49,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$42,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$49,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$43,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$43,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$53,000

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $6,800, 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.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 19.7 pts across 6 years
62.7%1yr58.4%3yr79.7%5yr82.4%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Raritan Valley Community College is home to 5,416 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 47% are first-generation college students, 51% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
5,416
Part-Time
51%
First-Generation
47%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 38.1% 2,064
Hispanic 32.6% 1,763
Black 12.5% 675
Asian 6.4% 347
Other 3.5% 187
International 1.6% 89
White: 38.1% (2,064 students)Hispanic: 32.6% (1,763 students)Black: 12.5% (675 students)Asian: 6.4% (347 students)Other: 3.5% (187 students)International: 1.6% (89 students)Total5,416

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Raritan Valley Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Rural: Fringe Branchburg, New Jersey
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
23% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

Raritan Valley Community College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 47 distinct programs across 18 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.

6 Programs
10 Programs
2 Programs
5 Programs
1 Program
4 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Raritan Valley Community College is 19:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,085
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.2M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$76,092
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

119 instructional faculty across 4 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 40 34% $89,154
Associate Professors 32 27% $79,096
Assistant Professors 25 21% $66,517
Instructors 22 18% $58,855

Pros & Cons of Raritan Valley Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Raritan Valley Community 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
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Class sizes are on the higher side
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Raritan Valley Community 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 Raritan Valley Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Raritan Valley Community College.

Is Raritan Valley Community College hard to get into?
Raritan Valley Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Raritan Valley Community College?
Raritan Valley Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Raritan Valley Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Raritan Valley Community College is $6,778 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Raritan Valley Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,145 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $6,778 per year. That's roughly 7.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Raritan Valley Community College known for?
Raritan Valley Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Raritan Valley Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Raritan Valley Community College are $48,145, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Raritan Valley Community College accredited?
Yes. Raritan Valley Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Raritan Valley Community College?
Raritan Valley Community College enrolls 5,416 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Raritan Valley Community College?
Raritan Valley Community College graduates 26% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Raritan Valley Community College a public or private college?
Raritan Valley Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Raritan Valley Community College located?
Raritan Valley Community College is located in Branchburg, New Jersey.
What programs does Raritan Valley Community College offer?
Raritan Valley Community College offers 47 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business, Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Raritan Valley Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Raritan Valley Community College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

Continue Exploring

Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.