At $7,222/yr net price, Niagara County Community College graduates earn $42,285/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $8,285/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $7,222 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $28,888 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,285/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$8,285/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 30.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $11,039 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $4,163/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,658/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,355/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,221/yr |
| $110,001+ | $12,855/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $60,006 | $14,615 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $38,681 | $15,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Associate | $33,993 | $11,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $30,988 | $12,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. | Associate | $29,685 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $28,816 | $11,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $27,440 | $11,000 |
| Information Science/Studies. | Associate | $25,967 | |
| Community Organization and Advocacy. | Associate | $25,194 | $10,139 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services. | Associate | $24,112 | $11,970 |
The Risk Factor
30.7% of students at Niagara County Community College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Niagara County Community College gives you a low-cost path with one clear winner and a lot of middling outcomes. At about $7,200 a year, your debt at graduation stays close to $11,000, which is manageable against a $42,285 median salary a decade out. The problem is the 30.70% graduation rate: fewer than one in three finishers means the biggest financial risk here is paying for credits and leaving without the credential that pays them back.
Nursing is the reason to come. Its associate grads earn roughly $60,000, nearly double what the hospitality and business management programs return. That gap is stark for a school where most programs cluster near or below the schoolwide median. Accounting and business administration land in the low $30,000s, and hospitality management sits under $30,000, meaning your borrowing pays off slowly in those tracks even though the debt loads are similar to nursing's.
The allied health program is a caution flag: you take on the highest debt of any listed program, $15,000, for earnings under $39,000. That is a worse trade than nursing on both sides. If you enroll for allied health, know you are borrowing more to earn less.
The net price tiers are friendly at the bottom. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $4,163 a year. over $110,000, you pay closer to $12,855. Either way the total cost stays low enough that the math works if you finish.
This school fits you if you want nursing or another health credential and plan to complete it, ideally transferring or entering the local health job market. If you are aiming at hospitality or general business, the earnings here do not justify borrowing much, and a transfer plan to a four-year degree makes more financial sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Niagara County Community College worth the cost?
At $7,222 per year, Niagara County Community College offers decent value if you complete your degree and choose the right program. Nursing graduates earn $60,006 annually, making the investment worthwhile, but the 31% graduation rate means many students don't finish.
What are the highest paying programs at Niagara County Community College?
Registered Nursing leads with $60,006 in annual earnings, followed by Allied Health programs at $38,681. Accounting graduates earn $33,993, while hospitality management majors make $29,685.
How much debt do Niagara County Community College students graduate with?
The median debt is $11,039, which is manageable compared to four-year schools. However, with average earnings of $42,285 ten years after enrollment, debt-to-income ratios vary significantly by program choice.
Why is Niagara County Community College's graduation rate so low?
Only 31% of students graduate, which is below average for community colleges. This low completion rate means the ROI calculations only apply to the minority of students who actually finish their programs.