Head-to-head comparison
Essex County College vs American Institute-Clifton: which has better ROI?
Option A Newark, NJ
Essex County College
- Net price / year
- $4,436
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,230
- Payback
- No payback
Option B CLIFTON, NJ
American Institute-Clifton
- Net price / year
- $20,371
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,710
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Essex County College comes closer — median earnings $37,230 against a $8,872 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-Clifton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Essex County College | American Institute-Clifton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,436 | $20,371 |
| Total net cost | $8,872 | $81,484 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,230 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | — | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$231,472 | -$474,484 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Essex County College or American Institute-Clifton?
Essex County College, at $4,436 a year after aid versus $20,371 — a gap of $15,935 a year, or $72,612 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Essex County College or American Institute-Clifton graduates earn more?
Essex County College graduates report a median $37,230 ten years after entry, $8,520 more than the $28,710 at American Institute-Clifton. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at American Institute-Clifton, against 20% at Essex County College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.