Bristol Community College
#4 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts- Graduation Rate
- 22% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,663 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $5,547 A
- 68% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 6,083
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 38.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $38.3 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts.
Every $1 spent returns $38.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $826,783.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduation of 22% — 62% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $38.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Bristol Community College
Bristol Community College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
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
- 6,083
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Bristol 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 $5,547 a year after grants and scholarships — 68% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,663 ten years after enrolling — 5% below the typical college, against $8,243 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 35% nationally for mobility.
See mobility →Overview
Bristol Community College is a great fit for students looking for a more focused, hands-on education in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, and Computer Science & IT. With an enrollment of about 6,083, it creates a vibrant community where students can find their niche and build connections. The smaller size often means more individualized attention, which can be crucial for those who thrive with more support during their studies.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $38,663 on average within ten years. That’s a solid starting point, especially considering many graduates find ways to move up in their careers. The college is also accessible financially, which is important for many students. With 46% of students receiving Pell Grants, it shows that Bristol is committed to helping those who need financial assistance.
On the practical side, the net price after aid is about $5,547, which makes it a manageable option for many families. The median debt for graduates is $8,243, a relatively low figure that indicates students are not leaving with burdensome loans. This environment tends to attract students who are motivated to learn and eager to make the most of their education, paving the way for a successful transition to the workforce.
Rankings
- #4 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts
- #4 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Massachusetts
- #5 Best Community Colleges
- #6 Best Education Colleges in Massachusetts
- #9 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts
- #10 Best Nursing Colleges in Massachusetts
- #16 Best Colleges in Massachusetts
- #16 Best Online Colleges for Low-Income Students
Can I Get In?
How selective Bristol 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 Bristol Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Fall River, Massachusetts, Bristol Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
- Retention Rate
- 54%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,517
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.65
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
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 Bristol Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bristol Community College is $10,776, 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 $5,547. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,550 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,243 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,832
- Out-of-State
- $10,776
- Avg Net Price
- $5,547
- Median Debt
- $8,243
- Pell Grant Rate
- 46%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 25%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,550
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,278
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $4,749
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,257
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 Bristol 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 Bristol Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bristol Community College report median earnings of $38,663, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,555
- 8 Years
- $34,395
- 10 Years
- $38,663
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 50%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (60)
- 6%
- 100% (60)
- 6%
- 100% (60)
- 6%
- 100% (60)
- 6%
How Bristol 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 Bristol Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bristol Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,547/year ($22,188 total). Graduates earn $38,663 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $848,971 in total earnings — a net gain of $826,783 (38.3× your investment). The median debt is $8,243, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 22% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $22,188
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $848,971
- Net Return
- $826,783
- ROI Multiple
- 38.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,547
- Median Debt
- $8,243
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 22%
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 Bristol Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bristol 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 1.79%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.8% 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 15.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.79%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 15.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $94,426
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,624,033
- Federal Grants
- $2,136,739
- Investment Income
- $-2,607,774
Top Programs
The fields Bristol 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.
- Humanities 31%
- Health Professions 20% $73,682 early-career
- Business & Marketing 11% $36,132 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7% $31,903 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $45,495 early-career
- Education 5% $28,100 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $27,056 early-career
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 Bristol 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
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bristol Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Fall River, Massachusetts, Bristol Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bristol Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bristol Community College is $10,776, 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 $5,547. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,550 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,243 in federal student loans.
Is Bristol Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bristol Community College report median earnings of $38,663, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Bristol Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bristol 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 1.79%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.8% 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 15.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $69,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
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