2026 data College Scorecard official source

Affordable Alternatives to Rowan College at Burlington County

Open-data reference.

We found 15 schools structurally similar to Rowan College at Burlington County that cost less. 10 offer comparable or better earnings outcomes.

Your School

Rowan College at Burlington County

Mount Laurel, New Jersey · Public

$5,344
Net Price
$44,745
Median Earnings (10yr)
N/A
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate

What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Alternatives to Rowan College at Burlington County

Rowan College at Burlington County posts an average net price of $5,344 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 Rowan College at Burlington County across six dimensions — ownership sector, Carnegie classification, undergraduate enrollment, admission rate, graduate earnings, and completion rate. 15 institutions cleared a 40-percent similarity threshold.

The maximum possible savings across this list is $3,254, achieved by Irvine Valley College at $2,090. Of greater interest to ROI-focused applicants: 10 of the 15 alternatives also report median 10-year earnings at or above Rowan College at Burlington County’s $44,745, meaning lower cost is not paired with lower earnings. The mean median-earnings figure across alternatives is $47,373.

The similarity scoring treats enrollment size, Carnegie classification, and ownership sector as high-weight features because those structural attributes correlate most strongly with student experience and post-graduation outcomes in the College Scorecard literature. Admission rate and graduation rate enter as secondary features, while net price drives the cost-ranking that determines which institutions appear. Net price is an IPEDS-reported figure calculated as the average cost of attendance minus institutional and federal grants for first-time, full-time undergraduates receiving Title IV aid — so it already accounts for the aid a typical admitted student would receive. That makes it a more honest cost comparison than sticker-price tuition alone.

Similar Schools That Cost Less

15
Alternatives Found
$3,254
Max Savings
10
Better Value Options
80%
Best Match

Top 5 alternatives by 10-yr earnings

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 Top 5 1. Middlesex College $47k 2. West Valley College $52k 3. Mission College $51k 4. Middlesex Community College $51k 5. Midland College $44k Compared to Rowan College at Burlington County: $45k.

Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Institution-level earnings + cost-of-attendance file · 2024 (latest release) Median 10-year earnings reflect federal-aid recipients only; net price reflects sticker price minus average grants/scholarships.

School Net Price Savings Earnings (10yr) Graduation Similarity
Middlesex College
Edison, NJ · Public Better Value
$2,288 -$3,056 $46,861 N/A 80%
West Valley College
Saratoga, CA · Public Better Value
$3,423 -$1,921 $51,688 N/A 78%
Mission College
Santa Clara, CA · Public Better Value
$5,080 -$264 $50,936 N/A 78%
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, MA · Public Better Value
$2,624 -$2,720 $50,651 N/A 77%
Midland College
Midland, TX · Public
$4,512 -$832 $43,958 19.8% 73%
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL · Public
$2,829 -$2,515 $43,892 N/A 70%
Mercer County Community College
West Windsor, NJ · Public
$5,279 -$65 $43,264 N/A 70%
Oakton College
Des Plaines, IL · Public Better Value
$5,183 -$161 $47,852 N/A 69%
Wharton County Junior College
Wharton, TX · Public Better Value
$4,666 -$678 $44,960 N/A 69%
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, CA · Public Better Value
$2,090 -$3,254 $49,156 N/A 67%
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA · Public Better Value
$3,702 -$1,642 $49,022 N/A 67%
Texas A & M International University
Laredo, TX · Public Better Value
$3,637 -$1,707 $48,386 47.6% 67%
Solano Community College
Fairfield, CA · Public
$4,669 -$675 $44,170 35.1% 67%
Norco College
Norco, CA · Public Better Value
$5,169 -$175 $51,206 N/A 65%
Kapiolani Community College
Honolulu, HI · Public
$5,202 -$142 $44,599 N/A 65%

How We Match Schools

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

Only schools with a lower average net price than Rowan College at Burlington County 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 Rowan College at Burlington County?
We found 15 schools similar to Rowan College at Burlington County that cost less. The closest match is Middlesex College with 80% similarity and a net price of $2,288.
What is the ROI of attending Rowan College at Burlington County?
Rowan College at Burlington County has an average net price of $5,344. Graduates earn a median of $44,745 ten years after enrollment. The earnings-to-cost ratio is 8.4x.
Are there schools with better outcomes than Rowan College at Burlington County for less money?
Yes — 10 of 15 alternatives offer comparable or higher median earnings at a lower net price. Middlesex College costs $2,288 (saving $3,056) with median earnings of $46,861.
What is the cheapest alternative to Rowan College at Burlington County?
The most affordable similar school is Irvine Valley College at $2,090, saving $3,254 compared to Rowan College at Burlington County. It has a 67% similarity score.
How do alternative schools' earnings compare?
The 15 alternatives have an average median earnings of $47,373 compared to Rowan College at Burlington County's $44,745. 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.