Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Northeastern Junior College

Open-data reference.

We found 14 schools structurally similar to Northeastern Junior College that cost less. 14 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Northeastern Junior College

Sterling, Colorado · Public

$13,801
Net Price
$39,893
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
55.2%
150%-Time Completion

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Northeastern Junior College

Northeastern Junior College posts an average net price of $13,801 after grants and scholarships, the IPEDS-derived figure used to anchor this alternatives search. We screened institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for colleges that report a lower net price and share structural similarity with Northeastern Junior College across six dimensions – ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, former-student earnings, and completion rate. 14 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $10,698, achieved by CUNY Brooklyn College at $3,103. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 14 of the 14 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Northeastern Junior College’s $39,893, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $65,597.

The similarity scoring gives enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector the highest weights as transparent structural matching choices. Admission and completion rates are secondary features, while net price determines which lower-cost matches appear. Net price is the average cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients; it describes that source cohort, not the aid a typical admitted student or any individual family will receive. It is more informative than sticker tuition for that cohort but is not a personalized quote.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

14
Alternatives Found
$10,698
Max Savings
14
Better Value Options
55%
Best Match
Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (USD). Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings 1. University of Connecticut-Wa $74k 2. New Mexico Institute of Mini $76k 3. University of Minnesota-Roch $69k 4. Ohio State University-Marion $60k 5. University of New Hampshire $66k Compared to Northeastern Junior College: $40k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · Institution data retrieved July 2026 Institution earnings use federally aided entry cohorts and are not graduate-only; net price is the cohort average for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Waterbury, CT · Public Better Value
$10,875 -$2,926 $73,997 56.1% 55%
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM · Public Better Value
$9,873 -$3,928 $76,489 56.8% 48%
University of Minnesota-Rochester
Rochester, MN · Public Better Value
$13,744 -$57 $69,020 57.1% 47%
Ohio State University-Marion Campus
Marion, OH · Public Better Value
$11,488 -$2,313 $60,409 26.2% 47%
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Manchester, NH · Public Better Value
$9,992 -$3,809 $66,479 56.1% 42%
Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, NY · Public Better Value
$10,867 -$2,934 $69,781 54.9% 41%
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA · Public Better Value
$6,067 -$7,734 $63,188 55.6% 41%
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY · Public Better Value
$3,103 -$10,698 $60,752 55.2% 41%
CUNY City College
New York, NY · Public Better Value
$3,776 -$10,025 $66,039 55.8% 40%
California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public Better Value
$9,338 -$4,463 $64,876 56.1% 40%
California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public Better Value
$10,229 -$3,572 $62,908 54.4% 40%
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY · Public Better Value
$4,195 -$9,606 $62,763 56.4% 40%
California State University-Fresno
Fresno, CA · Public Better Value
$7,000 -$6,801 $61,244 55.9% 40%
Ohio State University-Lima Campus
Lima, OH · Public Better Value
$12,940 -$861 $60,409 20.6% 40%

How We Match Schools

Our similarity engine compares schools across six dimensions: institution type (Carnegie classification), ownership (public/private), enrollment size, admission selectivity, former-student earnings, and completion rates. Each dimension is weighted by its impact on student outcomes.

Only schools with a lower average net price than Northeastern Junior College are shown. Schools marked "Better Value" have comparable or higher median earnings at a lower cost.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median values 10 years after enrollment, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records. Net price is the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students, as reported through IPEDS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are cheaper alternatives to Northeastern Junior College?
We found 14 schools similar to Northeastern Junior College that cost less. The closest match is University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus with 55% similarity and a net price of $10,875.
What is the ROI of attending Northeastern Junior College?
Northeastern Junior College has an average net price of $13,801. Former students earn a median of $39,893 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 2.9x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Northeastern Junior College for less money?
Yes - 14 of 14 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus costs $10,875 (saving $2,926) with median earnings of $73,997.
What is the cheapest alternative to Northeastern Junior College?
The most affordable similar school is CUNY Brooklyn College at $3,103, saving $10,698 compared to Northeastern Junior College. It has a 41% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 14 alternatives have an average median earnings of $65,597 compared to Northeastern Junior College's $39,893. On average, alternatives match or exceed this school's earnings. Individual results vary, check the comparison table above.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.