Passaic County Community College
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Why Passaic County Community College Matters
Passaic County Community College is a public community college in Paterson, NJ and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. 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
- 4,260
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Criminal Justice, Education, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Passaic 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 $7,761 a year after grants and scholarships — 55% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $36,972 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college, against $7,536 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 12% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.70 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With around 4,260 students, Passaic County Community College in Paterson, NJ, is a solid choice for those looking to dive into practical fields like Humanities, Criminal Justice, Education, Business & Marketing, or Health Professions. This college is a good fit for individuals who want to kickstart their careers with hands-on experience and a supportive environment. The focus on accessible education means that many students here are looking to balance school with work and family commitments.
Life after graduation can be promising, especially considering that former students earn an average of $36,972 within ten years of completing their studies. This figure is a helpful benchmark, suggesting that those who invest their time at Passaic County Community College have the potential to secure stable employment in their chosen fields. It’s worth noting that 61% of students receive Pell Grants, which can significantly ease financial burdens, making the path to employment a bit more manageable.
When it comes to finances, the net price after aid stands at $7,761, which is quite affordable compared to many other options. With a median debt of $7,536, students generally leave with a reasonable financial load, allowing them to focus on building their careers rather than being weighed down by debt. Those who thrive here often have a clear sense of their goals and are motivated to make the most of the practical programs available.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Passaic 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 Passaic County Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Passaic County Community College, located in Paterson, New Jersey, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 17%.
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 Passaic County Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Passaic County Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $10,560 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $7,761 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,686 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $7,536.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Passaic County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Passaic County Community College report median earnings of $36,972; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Passaic 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%?
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 Passaic County Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Passaic County 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 2.93%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 32.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $36,400, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Passaic County 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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Passaic County Community College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Passaic County Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Passaic County Community College, located in Paterson, New Jersey, enrolls students across a range of programs. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 17%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Passaic County Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Passaic County Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $10,560 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $7,761 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,686 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $7,536.
Is Passaic County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Passaic County Community College report median earnings of $36,972; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Does Passaic County Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Passaic County 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 2.93%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 32.6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $36,400, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Passaic 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 Passaic County Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.70 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias runs higher (0.22), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Passaic County Community College.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Passaic 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 Passaic County Community College, with an economic connectedness score of 0.70 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias runs higher (0.22), suggesting students tend to form ties within their own economic group. Around 3% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.