Berkshire Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It enrolls 1,358 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes14
Value54
Affordability48
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Berkshire Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Berkshire Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,921 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,921
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
30%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$6,164
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,468
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,750
Books & Supplies
$1,560
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,848
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,062
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,797
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,878
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,245
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,741
Over $110,000
$13,265
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,46025%percentile
$12,053Medianpercentile
$14,48975%percentile
$25,90790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,390
↓ $2,663
No Pell $6,000
↓ $6,053
Dependent students $5,791
↓ $6,262
Independent students $10,000
↓ $2,053
Female students $8,661
↓ $3,392
Male students $6,799
↓ $5,254
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($12,053), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at Berkshire Community College graduate within six years, and 59% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
59%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Berkshire Community College earn a median of $38,832 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,832
Earning > $25K
59%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$37,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Berkshire Community College is home to 1,358 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students, 75% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,358
Part-Time
75%
First-Generation
45%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 62.7%851
Hispanic 14.8%201
Black 8.0%109
Other 6.9%94
Asian 1.3%17
International 0.6%8
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Berkshire Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringePittsfield, Massachusetts
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
34%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Berkshire Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
15 distinct programs across
10 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Berkshire Community College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,865
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$12M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,785
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
47 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
18
38%
$76,731
Associate Professors
13
28%
$65,469
Assistant Professors
16
34%
$65,478
Pros & Cons of Berkshire Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Berkshire Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Berkshire Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Berkshire Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Berkshire Community College.
Is Berkshire Community College hard to get into?
Berkshire Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Berkshire Community College?
Berkshire Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Berkshire Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Berkshire Community College is $9,921 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Berkshire Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,832 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,921 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Berkshire Community College known for?
Berkshire Community College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Berkshire Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Berkshire Community College are $38,832, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Berkshire Community College accredited?
Yes. Berkshire Community College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Berkshire Community College?
Berkshire Community College enrolls 1,358 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Berkshire Community College?
Berkshire Community College graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Berkshire Community College a public or private college?
Berkshire Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Berkshire Community College located?
Berkshire Community College is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
What programs does Berkshire Community College offer?
Berkshire Community College offers 15 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Liberal Arts, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Berkshire Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Berkshire Community College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Massachusetts
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