Berkshire Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 21% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,832 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $9,921 B
- 42% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,358
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $20.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $788,882.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 21% — 63% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Berkshire Community College Matters
Berkshire Community College is a public community college in Pittsfield, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,358
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Berkshire Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,921 a year after grants and scholarships — 42% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,832 ten years after enrolling — 5% below the typical college, against $12,053 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 56% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.04 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Berkshire Community College is a good fit for students looking for a supportive environment where they can explore practical career paths. With an enrollment of 1,358, this school stands out for its programs in Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Education, and Visual & Performing Arts. These areas allow students to gain skills that are directly applicable to their careers, making the transition from classroom to workplace a bit smoother.
When it comes to what happens after graduation, the numbers tell a hopeful story. Graduates earn an average of $38,832 after ten years, which is a decent starting point for many fields. The affordability of attending BCC is another plus; the net price after aid is around $9,921, making it accessible for a wide range of students. While the graduation rate is only 21%, this number can be seen in context—many students may be balancing work or personal commitments alongside their studies.
Looking at the financial picture, the median debt for graduates stands at $12,053, which is manageable for most. Those who thrive here tend to be motivated individuals seeking to build a solid foundation for their future, often balancing their education with other responsibilities. The school’s focus on practical skills and real-world applications makes it a launching pad for students ready to take the next step.
Rankings
- #14 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts
- #21 Best Nursing Colleges in Massachusetts
- #27 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Massachusetts
- #45 Best Computer Science Colleges in Massachusetts
- #45 Best Data Science Colleges in Massachusetts
- #46 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts
- #50 Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts
Can I Get In?
How selective Berkshire Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Berkshire Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Berkshire Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
- Retention Rate
- 57%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 28%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,355
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.57
- First-Gen Students
- 45%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Berkshire Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Berkshire Community College is $11,468, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,921. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,797 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,053 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,164
- Out-of-State
- $11,468
- Avg Net Price
- $9,921
- Median Debt
- $12,053
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 30%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,797
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,878
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,245
- Family Income $110K+
- $13,265
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Berkshire Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Berkshire Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Berkshire Community College report median earnings of $38,832, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,584
- 8 Years
- $35,877
- 10 Years
- $38,832
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.31x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (11)
- 7%
- 100% (11)
- 7%
- 100% (11)
- 7%
- 100% (11)
- 7%
How Berkshire Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Berkshire Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Berkshire Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,921/year ($39,684 total). Graduates earn $38,832 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $828,566 in total earnings — a net gain of $788,882 (20.9× your investment). The median debt is $12,053, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 21% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $39,684
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $828,566
- Net Return
- $788,882
- ROI Multiple
- 20.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,921
- Median Debt
- $12,053
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 21%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Berkshire Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Berkshire Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.36%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.36%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $89,671
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $426,534
- Investment Income
- $-4,234
Top Programs
The fields Berkshire Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 51% $74,862 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10%
- Humanities 8%
- Visual & Performing Arts 6%
- Criminal Justice 4%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Culinary & Personal Services 3%
- Engineering 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Berkshire Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Berkshire Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Berkshire Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 21%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Berkshire Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Berkshire Community College is $11,468, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,921. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,797 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,053 in federal student loans.
Is Berkshire Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Berkshire Community College report median earnings of $38,832, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Berkshire Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Berkshire Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.36%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $66,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Berkshire Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Berkshire Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Berkshire Community College.
- Cayuga County Community CollegeAuburn, NY · Close peer32% grad $38,709 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Northeastern Oklahoma A&M CollegeMiami, OK · Close peer29% grad $38,337 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- College of the SiskiyousWeed, CA · Close peer32% grad $39,098 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Windward Community CollegeKaneohe, HI · Close peer30% grad $38,439 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Greenfield Community CollegeGreenfield, MA · Close peer26% grad $37,132 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cecil CollegeNorth East, MD · Close peer32% grad $43,952 earnWhy: similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Berkshire Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Berkshire Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note