
About
Essex County College, located in Newark, New Jersey, was founded in 1966.The school began classes in 1968 through a temporary location, moving to its permanent home in University Heights district in 1976. The school is one of the larger community colleges in the state, serving the entirety of Essex County. The school's urban campus covers three city blocks, and provides students with modern facilities to utilize in their educational growth. Essex County College is a public, two year, open enrollment institution dedicated to providing residents the best educational and career educations possible.
Academics
Essex County College offers a variety of programs, allowing students to choose one that suits his or her academic or career goals. Programs result in either a certificate or associate degree and take between one and two years to complete. Academic transfer programs prepare students for transfer to a four year university, allowing them to complete the freshman and sophomore years of a bachelor's degree at low cost prior to transfer. Once completed, students will apply to a four year institution to continue their education. Four year schools have varying requirements for transfer and it is advised that students pursuing such transfer should meet with an academic advisor to develop a curriculum that best suits the transfer requirements of a student's desired school or schools.
Career and technical training programs educate students in a particular field, preparing them as professionals for entry into the workforce. Students enrolled in such a program will receive a practical and classroom education, developing skills and abilities necessary to perform daily tasks and functions. Graduates of a career or technical program will receive a certificate or degree demonstrating competency and allowing the individual to seek work immediately upon graduation at the entry level. These programs typically reflect community needs and are offered for high demand or growing fields.
Programs offered include:
Admissions and Financial Aid
As an open enrollment institution, any student who meets the minimum requirements for admission will be admitted once they have submitted their application. Students will be asked to take a placement exam in order to determine which general education courses they will begin with. It is advised that students meet with a counselor to discuss goals, programs, and curriculum prior to registration.
Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs. Such aid is offered by the state and federal governments, and typically offered based on need. Students requiring financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the resulting student aid report (SAR) from which will be used to determine need, program eligibility, and monetary awards. Some scholarships may be awarded based on academic merit, and students meeting the criterion for consideration should apply prior to noted deadlines. Some students may be required to provide additional financial information prior to the disbursement of funds to ensure the accuracy of the information provided by the SAR.
Athletics
Essex County College participates in intercollegiate athletics through the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Division XIX and the Garden State Athletic Conference. The school supports intercollegiate athletics as it provides students a forum of healthy competition that allows for the development of skills and habits useful in one's academic, personal and professional career, such as teamwork, discipline, and good health. Additionally, the camaraderie developed by teammates working toward the same goal allows for a unique experience that may result in personal and group success. Start dates for athletic programs vary, and as such interested students should visit the athletic department to get tryout dates and times.
Athletic programs offered:
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Cross Country
- Track and Field
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $8,700. To calculate a more personalized cost visit the net price calculator. There is also a $25 application fee for students applying to the school. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition estimates are:
- State Residents: $3,100-$3,800
- Out-of-State: $6,300-$7,549
- Charges for part-time students are:
- State Residents: $120-$140 per credit unit
- Nonresidents: $230-$280 per credit unit
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
---|---|---|
Any Financial Aid | 79% | - |
Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 78% | $5,939 |
Admissions, Academics, & Student Services
Student Services
To support students and graduates, Essex County College may provide student services like:
- Online course work available
- Weekend and night classes available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Work study style employment
- Assisting students to find work
- Day care for children
Graduation & Transfer Rates
Community colleges often offer both career training programs and options for students to transfer-out to four year institutions, which is why the table below is so important, it compares this school against community colleges in New Jersey.
Essex County College | Essex County | New Jersey | |
---|---|---|---|
Graduation Rate | 7.8% | - | 17.2% |
Transfer-out Rate | 11.8% | - | 17.6% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
- Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
- Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1990)
- Find all the other nursing programs in New Jersey
- Radiology Technician Program
- Accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (since 1971)
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.

Get more information about the programs offered by Essex County College by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (A)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (A)
- Accounting (A)
- Bookkeeping (A)
- Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services
- Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Programming (A)
- Computer Programming, Specific Applications (A)
- Computer (A)
Education
- Teacher Education, Multiple Levels (A)
- Physical Education (A)
- Educational and Instructional Media Design (A)
Engineering
- Engineering (A)
Engineering Technology
- Electrical and Communications Engineering Technology (A)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD) (C)
- Architectural Engineering (A)
- Civil Engineering Technology (A)
- Mechanical Technology Technician (A)
- Engineering Technologies (A)
- Manufacturing Engineering Technician
- Survey Technology
Health and Clinical Professions
- Health Preparatory Programs (A)
- Nursing (A)
- Radiology Technician (A)
- Physical Therapist Assistant (A)
- Health Services (A)
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) (C)
- Opticianry, Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician (A)
- Dental Hygienist (A)
- Massage Therapy (C)
- Dental Assistant (C)
- Respiratory Therapy (A)
Legal Professions and Studies
- Paralegal (A, C)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (A)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (A)
Natural Resources and Conservation
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (A)
Public Administration and Social Services
- Social Work (A, C)
Science Technology
- Chemical Technology (A)
Security and Protective Services
- Police Science (A)
Social Sciences
- Social Science (A)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Art Studies (A, C)
- Music (A)
Other Community Colleges Nearby
The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Essex County College.
- Hudson County Community College in Jersey City, NJ (6 miles away)
- CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York, NY (9 miles away)
- Union County College in Cranford, NJ (9 miles away)
- Medgar Evers College - CUNY in Brooklyn, NY (13 miles away)
- Hostos Community College - CUNY in Bronx, NY (14 miles away)