Great Bay Community College
#8 Most Affordable Colleges in New Hampshire- Graduation Rate
- 32% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,397 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $15,768 C+
- Close to the national average
- Enrollment
- 1,259
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 14.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.4 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable Colleges in New Hampshire.
Every $1 spent returns $14.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $843,552.
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 32% — 45% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Great Bay Community College Matters
Great Bay Community College is a public community college in Portsmouth, NH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity 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
- 1,259
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Precision Production, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Great Bay 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 $15,768 a year after grants and scholarships — 8% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,397 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college, against $13,828 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.26 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 1,259 students, Great Bay Community College is an inviting option for those looking to jumpstart their careers or gain new skills. This school is particularly well-suited for individuals interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Health Professions, and Computer Science & IT. Students appreciate the focus on practical skills and hands-on learning, which sets them up for success in their chosen industries.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $42,397 within a decade of completing their programs. This figure offers a glimpse into the potential return on investment for those who commit to their education here. The affordability also stands out, with a net price of $15,768 after aid. That makes it easier for students to manage their financial future while pursuing their career goals.
When we look at the financial landscape, the median debt for graduates is $13,828, which is relatively manageable compared to potential earnings. Students who thrive at Great Bay tend to be those who are motivated and ready to engage in a community-oriented learning environment. With a diverse range of programs and a supportive atmosphere, this college serves as a solid stepping stone for many in their educational and professional journeys.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Great Bay 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 Great Bay Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Great Bay Community College, located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 22%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,738
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.45
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
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 Great Bay Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Great Bay Community College is $15,450, 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 $15,768. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,237 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,828 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,200
- Out-of-State
- $15,450
- Avg Net Price
- $15,768
- Median Debt
- $13,828
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 23%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,237
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $21,132
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,725
- Family Income $110K+
- $21,963
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 Great Bay 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 Great Bay Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Great Bay Community College report median earnings of $42,397, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,867
- 8 Years
- $39,260
- 10 Years
- $42,397
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.33x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (31)
- 15%
- 100% (31)
- 15%
- 100% (31)
- 15%
- 100% (31)
- 15%
How Great Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Great Bay Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Great Bay Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $15,768/year ($63,072 total). Graduates earn $42,397 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $906,624 in total earnings — a net gain of $843,552 (14.4× your investment). The median debt is $13,828, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $63,072
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $906,624
- Net Return
- $843,552
- ROI Multiple
- 14.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $15,768
- Median Debt
- $13,828
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 32%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $526,841
- Federal Grants
- $213,344
- Investment Income
- $-1,024,167
Top Programs
The fields Great Bay 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 20% $70,116 early-career
- Business & Marketing 20%
- Precision Production 9%
- Computer Science & IT 9% $51,598 early-career
- Humanities 7%
- Education 6%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5%
- Psychology 5%
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 Great Bay 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 Great Bay Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Great Bay Community College, located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Great Bay Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Great Bay Community College is $15,450, 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 $15,768. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,237 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,828 in federal student loans.
Is Great Bay Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Great Bay Community College report median earnings of $42,397, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Great Bay 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 Great Bay Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.26, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Great Bay Community College.
- Herkimer County Community CollegeHerkimer, NY · Close peer31% grad $39,199 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Enterprise State Community CollegeEnterprise, AL · Close peer36% grad $42,572 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Iowa Lakes Community CollegeEstherville, IA · Close peer36% grad $43,108 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Tompkins Cortland Community CollegeDryden, NY · Close peer26% grad $40,707 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Hocking CollegeNelsonville, OH · Close peer32% grad $37,791 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- College of the SiskiyousWeed, CA · Close peer32% grad $39,098 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Great Bay 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 Great Bay Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.26, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note