Head-to-head · 2026
Mercer County Community College vs Middlesex College
Compare average net price ($5,279 at Mercer County Community College; $2,288 at Middlesex College), ROI score (20.49 vs 51.20), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($43,264 vs $46,861), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Mercer County Community College; Open / not reported at Middlesex College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Mercer County Community College | Middlesex College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 20.49 | 51.20 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $5,279 | $2,288 ✓ |
| 4-year avg net price | $21,116 | $9,152 ✓ |
| In-state tuition | $5,310 | $4,764 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $9,174 | $7,356 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $43,264 | $46,861 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 24.9% | 33.4% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 66.7% | 72.3% ✓ |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $9,750 ✓ |
| Enrollment | 5,404 | 8,469 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Mercer County Community College | Middlesex College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $4,017 | $1,306 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $4,152 | $1,435 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $6,674 | $3,653 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $9,607 | $4,050 ✓ |
| Family income $110k+ | $12,545 | $4,504 ✓ |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Mercer County Community College | Middlesex College |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 26.4% | 31.1% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 8.7% | 15.3% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 11.2% | 3.4% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 7.1% | 4.2% |
| Legal Support Services | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 1.7% | 2.3% |
| Engineering Science | 2% | 2% |
| Computer Programming | 2.4% | 0.5% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Middlesex College reports the lower average net price by $2,991 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $11,964 difference over four years ($9,152 vs $21,116).
Middlesex College reports $3,597 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($46,861 vs $43,264). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 66.7% at Mercer County Community College and 72.3% at Middlesex College. Median federal debt among completers is $10,500 vs $9,750, respectively.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
Related college comparisons
Promoted matchups involving the same colleges or other leading schools in their states.
Frequently asked
Mercer County Community College vs Middlesex College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Middlesex College is cheaper — average net price $2,288 per year vs $5,279 at Mercer County Community College. The annual difference of $2,991 adds up to about $11,964 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Middlesex College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $46,861 vs $43,264 at Mercer County Community College. The gap in the federal data is $3,597. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.