Bergen Community College vs. RVCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ with Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bergen Community College is larger than RVCC based on total student enrollment (11,720 students vs. 6,762 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bergen Community College is located in Paramus, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Raritan Valley Community College is in Branchburg, NJ (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bergen Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Raritan Valley Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bergen Community College 18:1; Raritan Valley Community College 19:1.

Bergen Community College vs. RVCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bergen Community College or RVCC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Raritan Valley Community College than Bergen Community College ($7,008 vs. $9,973).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Raritan Valley Community College are 16.5% lower than at Bergen Community College ($12,000 vs. $14,374).
• Bergen Community College is 17.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RVCC (about $1,310 more per year; $8,894.00 vs. $7,584.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.5% higher at Bergen Community College than at Raritan Valley Community College (about $1,710 more per year; $9,294.00 vs. $7,584.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bergen Community College than at Raritan Valley Community College (66% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Raritan Valley Community College students is 0.5% larger than aid received by Bergen Community College students ($6,605 vs. $6,574).

Bergen Community College vs. RVCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bergen Community College or RVCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RVCC and Bergen Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bergen Community College - Open admission; RVCC - Open admission.

Bergen Community College vs. RVCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bergen Community College and RVCC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Raritan Valley Community College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Bergen Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,500 vs. $40,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Raritan Valley Community College graduates have a $773 lower median loan debt than Bergen Community College graduates ($9,000 vs. $9,773).
• Among borrowers, RVCC graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bergen Community College graduates ($93 vs. $101).
• More RVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bergen Community College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 49%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.