Public Associate Good 63/100

Ocean County College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

Compare This College

Toms River, New Jersey

About Ocean County College

Ocean County College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Toms River, New Jersey. It enrolls 5,424 students (a large 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.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
28.6%
Net Price
$11,411
Median Earnings (10yr)
$45,210
Enrollment
5,424
Student : Faculty
20:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar Semester

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.

Good
63/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 49
Value 55
Affordability 37
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Ocean County 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 Ocean County 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 $11,411 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$11,411
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
6%
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)
$4,906
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$6,970
Room & Board (off-campus)
$26,220
Books & Supplies
$438
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,311
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,207

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
    $9,833
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $9,876
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $11,965
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $13,876
  • Over $110,000
    $17,869

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.

$2,000
10% percentile
$3,000
25% percentile
$11,150
Median percentile
$12,163
75% percentile
$20,250
90% 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 $8,502 ↓ $2,648
No Pell $8,353 ↓ $2,797
Dependent students $7,750 ↓ $3,400
Independent students $10,500 ↓ $650
Female students $9,500 ↓ $1,650
Male students $7,500 ↓ $3,650
Pell recipients: 16.3% (1,819 students)No Pell: 16.0% (1,787 students)Dependent students: 14.9% (1,658 students)Independent students: 20.2% (2,247 students)Female students: 18.2% (2,033 students)Male students: 14.4% (1,605 students)Overall Median$11,150
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($11,150), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

29% of full-time students who enrolled at Ocean County College graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
29%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
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 Ocean County College earn a median of $45,210 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,210
Earning > $25K
69%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$35,000$38,000$41,000$44,000$47,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$35,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$45,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$37,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$40,200

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$44,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,200, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

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 15.8 pts across 6 years
53%1yr57.5%3yr65.2%5yr68.8%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Ocean County College is home to 5,424 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 52% are first-generation college students, 46% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
5,424
Part-Time
46%
First-Generation
52%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 62.9% 3,414
Hispanic 23.8% 1,292
Black 5.6% 301
Other 3.7% 198
Asian 2.8% 151
International 0.1% 4
White: 62.9% (3,414 students)Hispanic: 23.8% (1,292 students)Black: 5.6% (301 students)Other: 3.7% (198 students)Asian: 2.8% (151 students)International: 0.1% (4 students)Total5,424

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Ocean County College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large Suburb Toms River, New Jersey
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
20% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Ocean County College offers a varied set of programs: 20 distinct programs across 13 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.

1 Program
4 Programs
2 Programs
2 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
1 Program
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Ocean County College is 20:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,437
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$7.9M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$62,855
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

28 instructional faculty across 4 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 7 25% $82,779
Associate Professors 7 25% $73,322
Assistant Professors 9 32% $71,843
Instructors 5 18% $65,486

Pros & Cons of Ocean County College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Ocean County College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Open admissions
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
Best for: Based on the data, Ocean County College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ocean County College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Ocean County College.

Is Ocean County College hard to get into?
Ocean County College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Ocean County College?
Ocean County College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Ocean County College cost?
The average net price after aid at Ocean County College is $11,411 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Ocean County College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,210 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,411 per year. That's roughly 4.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Ocean County College known for?
Ocean County College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Ocean County College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Ocean County College are $45,210, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Ocean County College accredited?
Yes. Ocean County College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Ocean County College?
Ocean County College enrolls 5,424 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Ocean County College?
Ocean County College graduates 29% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Ocean County College a public or private college?
Ocean County College is a Public institution.
Where is Ocean County College located?
Ocean County College is located in Toms River, New Jersey.
What programs does Ocean County College offer?
Ocean County College offers 20 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Ocean County College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Ocean County College is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

Continue Exploring

Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.