Salem Community College
#4 Best Psychology Colleges in New Jersey- Graduation Rate
- 39% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,020 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $10,816 B
- 37% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 910
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 20.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.9 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Psychology Colleges in New Jersey.
Every $1 spent returns $20.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $860,429.
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 39% — 32% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Salem Community College Matters
Salem Community College is a public community college in Carneys Point, NJ 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
- 910
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Precision Production
Why students choose Salem 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 $10,816 a year after grants and scholarships — 37% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,020 ten years after enrolling — 7% below the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 83% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.27 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 910 students, Salem Community College is a great fit for individuals looking to start their academic journey in a supportive environment. Here, students can dive into programs like Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Precision Production, and Education. The smaller size fosters a community feel, making it easier to connect with peers and faculty, which can be particularly beneficial for those seeking personalized attention in their studies.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $38,020 a year, which is a solid starting point for many. The affordability of attending Salem is notable, especially considering the net price after aid is approximately $10,816. With 40% of students receiving Pell Grants, it indicates a strong commitment to supporting low-income students. This financial aid can help ease the burden of college costs and allow graduates to focus on their careers rather than excessive debt.
When we look at the practical aspects, the median debt for graduates stands at $9,500—manageable for many, especially with the earning potential. Students who thrive here often value a hands-on approach to learning and are motivated to improve their skills for immediate entry into the workforce. For those seeking a pathway to a fulfilling career without the pressure of a large debt, Salem Community College can be a wise choice.
Rankings
- #4 Best Psychology Colleges in New Jersey
- #6 Best Community Colleges for Nursing
- #6 Best Nursing Colleges in New Jersey
- #14 Best Education Colleges in New Jersey
- #17 Best Biology Colleges in New Jersey
- #19 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey
- #19 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in New Jersey
- #21 Best Online Colleges in New Jersey
Can I Get In?
How selective Salem 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 Salem Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Carneys Point, New Jersey, Salem Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,719
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- 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 Salem Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Salem Community College is $10,260, 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 $10,816. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,845 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,360
- Out-of-State
- $10,260
- Avg Net Price
- $10,816
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 40%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 12%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,845
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,997
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,702
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,712
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 Salem 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 Salem Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Salem Community College report median earnings of $38,020, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $32,880
- 8 Years
- $37,945
- 10 Years
- $38,020
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (65)
- 39%
- 100% (65)
- 39%
- 100% (65)
- 39%
- 100% (65)
- 39%
How Salem 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 Salem Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Salem Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,816/year ($43,264 total). Graduates earn $38,020 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $903,693 in total earnings — a net gain of $860,429 (20.9× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 39% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $43,264
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $903,693
- Net Return
- $860,429
- ROI Multiple
- 20.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,816
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 39%
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 Salem Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Salem 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 0.90%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.9% 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 8.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.90%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $103,529
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,863,760
- Federal Grants
- $1,365,664
- Investment Income
- $2,437
Top Programs
The fields Salem 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 43% $77,627 early-career
- Humanities 14%
- Business & Marketing 9%
- Precision Production 7% $38,698 early-career
- Psychology 6%
- Criminal Justice 5%
- Education 4%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
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 Salem 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
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Salem Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Carneys Point, New Jersey, Salem Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Salem Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Salem Community College is $10,260, 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 $10,816. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,845 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is Salem Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Salem Community College report median earnings of $38,020, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Salem Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Salem 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 0.90%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.9% 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 8.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Salem 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 Salem Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.27, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Salem Community College.
- Missouri State University-West PlainsWest Plains, MO · Close peer38% grad $36,922 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- North Central Michigan CollegePetoskey, MI · Close peer27% grad $36,594 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Great Falls College Montana State UniversityGreat Falls, MT · Close peer33% grad $38,034 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Sullivan County Community CollegeLoch Sheldrake, NY · Close peer28% grad $38,354 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Allen County Community CollegeIola, KS · Close peer38% grad $40,059 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Eastern Oklahoma State CollegeWilburton, OK · Close peer29% grad $38,658 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Salem 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 Salem Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.27, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note