BCC Grad Rate Low, Scorecard Shows

Based on a new interactive website, Bergen Community College ranks lower than the rest of the nation for hits annual price tag and graduation rate, according to the United States Department of Education's College Scorecard.

The website, created after President Barack Obama called for colleges to be held accountable for “cost, value and quality,” gives families and prospective students critical information to make decisions on college choices, according to the Department of Education.

According to the “College Scorecard,” the Paramus-based school has an average net price for undergraduates of $5,708 year. Net price, according to the Scorecard, is what undergraduate students pay after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the institution’s cost of attendance.

The Scorecard also notes the average net price has decreased 1.4-percent from 2007 to 2009.

The school's graduation rate was “low” when compared nationally, with 16.9-percent of full-time students receiving an associtate’s degree within two years. Bergen Community saw 15.4-percent transfer to another college or university to complete their degree. Bergen has approximately 17,271 students enrolled currently.

“We know students and families are often overwhelmed in the college search process­–but feel they lack the tools to sort through the information and decide which school is right for them,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a statement. “The College Scorecard provides a snapshot about an institution’s cost and value to help families make smart decisions about where to enroll.”

One category in which Bergen students ranked behind the national average was loan default rate. Approximately 15.3-percent of students defaulted on their federal student loans within three years of entering repayment. The national average was listed as 13.4-percent.

To see the College Scorecard and other colleges ranked, go here.

Do you think this tool will be helpful for prospective college students and their families? Will you use it to help make college decisions?