Cape Cod Community College
#10 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts- Graduation Rate
- 22% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,670 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,296 B+
- 52% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,911
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 29.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.7 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts.
Every $1 spent returns $29.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $951,977.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 22% — 62% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.09% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Cape Cod Community College Matters
Cape Cod Community College is a public community college in West Barnstable, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
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
- 2,911
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Humanities, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Cape Cod 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 $8,296 a year after grants and scholarships — 52% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,670 ten years after enrolling — 7% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 26% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.43 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Cape Cod Community College serves around 2,900 students looking for a practical and accessible education. If you’re interested in fields like Health Professions or Criminal Justice, this school might be a good fit for you. Students here often focus on hands-on programs that prepare them for immediate entry into the workforce or for further studies.
After graduation, alumni typically earn around $43,670 within ten years, which can be a solid return on your education. While the graduation rate is 22%, this reflects a broad range of student experiences and paths. Many students start their careers or transfer to other institutions for advanced degrees, giving them opportunities to advance in their chosen fields.
The cost of attending Cape Cod Community College is relatively manageable, with a net price of about $8,296 after aid, and a median debt of $12,000. This financial structure can make it easier for students to thrive without overwhelming debt. Those who do well here often appreciate the community-focused environment and the chance to engage directly with their studies, making it an inviting choice for practical learners.
Rankings
- #10 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts
- #17 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Massachusetts
- #20 Best Nursing Colleges in Massachusetts
- #21 Best Education Colleges in Massachusetts
- #29 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts
- #39 Best Colleges in Massachusetts
- #40 Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts
Can I Get In?
How selective Cape Cod 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 Cape Cod Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in West Barnstable, Massachusetts, Cape Cod Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
- Retention Rate
- 69%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 28%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,019
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.55
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
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 Cape Cod Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cape Cod Community College is $10,944, 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 $8,296. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,253 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,000
- Out-of-State
- $10,944
- Avg Net Price
- $8,296
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 10%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,253
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,991
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,089
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,779
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Cape Cod Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cape Cod Community College report median earnings of $43,670, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,296
- 8 Years
- $37,551
- 10 Years
- $43,670
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (33)
- 12%
- 100% (33)
- 12%
- 100% (33)
- 12%
- 100% (33)
- 12%
How Cape 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 Cape Cod Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Cape Cod Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,296/year ($33,184 total). Graduates earn $43,670 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $985,161 in total earnings — a net gain of $951,977 (29.7× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, 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)
- $33,184
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $985,161
- Net Return
- $951,977
- ROI Multiple
- 29.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,296
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- 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 Cape Cod Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Cape Cod 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 2.09%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.7% 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 16.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.09%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 16.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 12.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $67,700
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,401,862
- Federal Grants
- $6,478,433
- Investment Income
- $27,152
Top Programs
The fields Cape Cod Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Health Professions 28%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 16%
- Humanities 13%
- Business & Marketing 10%
- Criminal Justice 6%
- Culinary & Personal Services 3%
- Education 3%
- Psychology 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Cape Cod 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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Cape Cod Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in West Barnstable, Massachusetts, Cape Cod Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 22%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Cape Cod Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Cape Cod Community College is $10,944, 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 $8,296. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,253 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Cape Cod Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Cape Cod Community College report median earnings of $43,670, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Cape Cod Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Cape Cod 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 2.09%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.7% 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 16.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $67,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Cape Cod Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cape Cod Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Cape Cod Community College.
- Central Maine Community CollegeAuburn, ME · Close peer29% grad $42,448 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Community College of AuroraAurora, CO · Close peer31% grad $44,592 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Mount Wachusett Community CollegeGardner, MA · Close peer27% grad $41,118 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Mendocino CollegeUkiah, CA · Close peer28% grad $40,243 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mohawk Valley Community CollegeUtica, NY · Close peer36% grad $39,850 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- North Shore Community CollegeDanvers, MA · Close peer18% grad $45,391 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Cape Cod Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Cape Cod Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.43, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note