Head-to-head comparison
Hudson County Community College vs American Institute-Clifton: which has better ROI?
Option A Jersey City, NJ
Hudson County Community College
- Net price / year
- $7,307
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,333
- 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 Hudson County Community College comes closer — median earnings $34,333 against a $14,614 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-Clifton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Hudson County Community College | American Institute-Clifton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,307 | $20,371 |
| Total net cost | $14,614 | $81,484 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,333 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$295,154 | -$474,484 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Hudson County Community College or American Institute-Clifton?
Hudson County Community College, at $7,307 a year after aid versus $20,371 — a gap of $13,064 a year, or $66,870 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 Hudson County Community College or American Institute-Clifton graduates earn more?
Hudson County Community College graduates report a median $34,333 ten years after entry, $5,623 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 leaves students with less debt, Hudson County Community College or American Institute-Clifton?
Hudson County Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-Clifton, a difference of $1,479. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at American Institute-Clifton, against 26% at Hudson County Community 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.