At $7,442/yr net price, Orange County Community College graduates earn $44,117/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $10,117/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $7,442 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $29,768 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,117/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$10,117/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 23.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $12,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $3,222/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,602/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,789/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,167/yr |
| $110,001+ | $13,783/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 | $66,401 | $14,000 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Associate | $58,970 | |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | Associate | $37,779 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $36,560 | $9,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate | $30,771 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Associate | $26,353 | $13,303 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Associate | $25,967 | $12,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $20,572 | $10,320 |
| Graphic Communications. | Associate | $17,846 |
The Risk Factor
23.3% of students at Orange 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
Orange County Community College gives you a low-cost entry point with a payoff that hinges almost entirely on which program you finish. At roughly $7,400 a year with a $12,000 median debt load, the financial downside is small if you graduate. The problem is the 23% graduation rate. If you leave without a credential, you still carry the cost and get none of the earnings bump, and that is the single biggest risk here.
Nursing is the clear winner. The associate program pushes earnings to $66,401, far above the school's $44,117 median, and the extra $14,000 in debt it carries is easy to justify against that salary. Dental support services follows at nearly $59,000. Both feed directly into the healthcare hiring in the Middletown and broader Hudson Valley area.
The health programs below those two tell a different story. Clinical lab science, medical assisting, and health administrative services land between $30,000 and $38,000. These sit at or below the school median, so the credential clears your costs but does not move you far past them. Medical assisting keeps debt low at $9,500, which softens the weak salary, but health administrative services at under $31,000 is a thin return.
This school fits you if you can get into and finish nursing or dental support, or if you plan to transfer to a four-year school and use the low price to bank cheap credits. If you are drawn to the lower-paying health administration tracks, weigh whether the pay clears your goals before committing.
On price by income: if your family earns under $30,000 you pay about $3,222, while over $110,000 runs to $13,783. Even the top tier stays below one year of the median graduate's earnings, so cost is manageable across the board. Graduating is what decides your return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Orange County Community College worth the cost?
Orange County Community College offers decent value with low tuition costs at $7,442 yearly, but the 23% graduation rate raises concerns about completion. Nursing programs show strong ROI with $66,401 average earnings, while other programs earn closer to $37,000-$59,000 annually.
What are the highest paying programs at Orange County Community College?
Registered Nursing leads with $66,401 average earnings, followed by Dental Support Services at $58,970. Most other health programs earn $30,000-$37,000, which is solid for associate degree programs but may not justify the time investment for all students.
How much debt do Orange County Community College graduates have?
Graduates typically leave with $12,000 in debt, which is manageable compared to four-year schools. However, with only 23% of students graduating, many accumulate debt without completing their programs.
What is the graduation rate at Orange County Community College?
Only 23% of students graduate from Orange County Community College, well below the national community college average. This low completion rate means many students pay tuition costs without earning credentials that boost their income.