Jefferson Community College vs. OCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Jefferson Community College in Watertown, NY with Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Onondaga Community College is larger than Jefferson Community College based on total student enrollment (8,537 students vs. 2,319 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Jefferson Community College is located in Watertown, NY (Remote Town setting); Onondaga Community College is in Syracuse, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Jefferson Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Onondaga Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Jefferson Community College 21:1; Onondaga Community College 18:1.

Jefferson Community College vs. OCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Jefferson Community College or OCC? 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 Onondaga Community College than Jefferson Community College ($7,788 vs. $11,328).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Onondaga Community College are 17.1% lower than at Jefferson Community College ($11,862 vs. $14,308).
• Jefferson Community College is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than OCC (about $162 more per year; $6,264.00 vs. $6,102.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at Jefferson Community College than at Onondaga Community College (about $308 more per year; $11,700.00 vs. $11,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Onondaga Community College than at Jefferson Community College (74% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Onondaga Community College students is 15.7% larger than aid received by Jefferson Community College students ($8,540 vs. $7,381).

Jefferson Community College vs. OCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Jefferson Community College or OCC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between OCC and Jefferson Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Jefferson Community College - Open admission; OCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Jefferson Community College Sep 6, 2026.

Jefferson Community College vs. OCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Jefferson Community College and OCC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from Onondaga Community College earn a median of about $900 more per year than Jefferson Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,100 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Jefferson Community College graduates have a $200 lower median loan debt than OCC graduates ($9,900 vs. $10,100).
• Among borrowers, Jefferson Community College graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OCC graduates ($102 vs. $104).
• More Jefferson Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OCC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 44%)

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.