Mercer County Community College
#3 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey- Graduation Rate
- 23% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,264 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $5,279 A
- 69% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 5,404
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 53.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $53.0 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey.
Every $1 spent returns $53.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,097,990.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 23% — 60% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $53.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Mercer County Community College
Mercer County 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
- 5,404
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Mercer County 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 $5,279 a year after grants and scholarships — 69% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,264 ten years after enrolling — 6% above the typical college, against $10,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 79% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.83 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 5,400 students, Mercer County Community College serves those looking to jumpstart their education or refine their skills in practical fields. The college shines in areas like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Culinary Arts, making it a solid choice for students seeking hands-on learning and career-oriented programs. If you're someone who values a community atmosphere and a chance to explore diverse interests, this college could be a great fit.
Looking at life after graduation, the average earnings for Mercer graduates ten years out is $43,264. This gives a sense of the potential return on investment for students who complete their programs. It's important to consider how affordable the education here is, too. The net price after financial aid is around $5,279, which is relatively manageable. This means graduates can start their careers without a mountain of debt, as the median debt for students is about $10,500.
In terms of who thrives at Mercer, it's often those who appreciate a supportive environment and are focused on gaining practical skills for the job market. With 30% of students receiving Pell Grants, there's a commitment to making education accessible, especially for those from lower-income backgrounds. The combination of low net costs and a practical approach to education makes Mercer a pragmatic choice for many students ready to take charge of their futures.
Rankings
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey
- #16 Best Nursing Colleges in New Jersey
- #24 Best Computer Science Colleges in New Jersey
- #24 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in New Jersey
- #24 Best Data Science Colleges in New Jersey
- #28 Best Online Colleges in New Jersey
- #28 Best Business Colleges in New Jersey
- #31 Best Colleges in New Jersey
Can I Get In?
How selective Mercer County 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 Mercer County Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in West Windsor, New Jersey, Mercer County Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 23%.
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,001
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.79
- First-Gen Students
- 50%
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 Mercer County Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mercer County Community College is $9,174, 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 $5,279. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,017 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,310
- Out-of-State
- $9,174
- Avg Net Price
- $5,279
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 13%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,017
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,152
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,674
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,545
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 Mercer County 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 Mercer County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mercer County Community College report median earnings of $43,264, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,267
- 8 Years
- $38,726
- 10 Years
- $43,264
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (91)
- 10%
- 100% (91)
- 10%
- 100% (91)
- 10%
- 100% (91)
- 10%
How Mercer 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 Mercer County Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Mercer County Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,279/year ($21,116 total). Graduates earn $43,264 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,119,106 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,097,990 (53.0× your investment). The median debt is $10,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 23% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $21,116
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,119,106
- Net Return
- $1,097,990
- ROI Multiple
- 53.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,279
- Median Debt
- $10,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 23%
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 Mercer County Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mercer County Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.95%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.95%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 8.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $109,235
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,008,252
- Investment Income
- $-11,345
Top Programs
The fields Mercer County 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 25%
- Humanities 22%
- Business & Marketing 16%
- Visual & Performing Arts 7%
- Culinary & Personal Services 6%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Computer Science & IT 4%
- Transportation 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Mercer County 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
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Mercer County Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in West Windsor, New Jersey, Mercer County Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 23%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mercer County Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mercer County Community College is $9,174, 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 $5,279. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,017 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,500 in federal student loans.
Is Mercer County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mercer County Community College report median earnings of $43,264, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Mercer County Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mercer County Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.95%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Mercer County Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Mercer County Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.33), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Mercer County Community College.
- St Charles Community CollegeCottleville, MO · Close peer24% grad $42,422 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- CUNY Hostos Community CollegeBronx, NY · Close peer17% grad $40,485 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kapiolani Community CollegeHonolulu, HI · Close peer21% grad $44,599 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- CUNY Kingsborough Community CollegeBrooklyn, NY · Close peer25% grad $42,621 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rowan College at Burlington CountyMount Laurel, NJ · Close peer37% grad $44,745 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- New Mexico State University-Dona AnaLas Cruces, NM · Close peer17% grad $39,067 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Mercer County Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs below average at Mercer County Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias runs higher (0.33), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note