How Much Debt Do Bergen County College Students Have?

By DANIEL HUBBARD (Patch Staff)

The White House unveiled a website Saturday that provides key financial information on every college and university in the United States.

The site lists the annual costs, graduation rates, student salaries after graduation, and other financial and enrollment information for all of the 7,000 institutions of higher education in the United States.

Related: College Scorecard

The site came about under President Obama’s original plan to have the government rank every institution and point out low-rated ones that burden students with high debt and poor earning potential. Obama abandoned the two-year plan Saturday, according to The New York Times.

“There are colleges dedicated to helping students of all backgrounds learn without saddling them with debt. We should hold everybody to that standard. Our economic future depends on it,” Obama said in his weekly address.

Users can search for an institution based degrees offered, location, size, and other factors or search for a specific institution by name.

The data is based on students who have received a federal loan or grant to attend college.

Fairleigh Dickinson University — Metropolitan Campus

Average annual cost: $17,947

Percentage of students receiving federal loans: 37

Debt: 86 percent of students begin to pay off their debt within three years of graduation

Typical monthly student loan payment: $278

Average salary after attending: $46,800

Ramapo College

Average annual cost: $19,830

Percentage of students receiving federal loans: 61

Debt: 90 percent of students begin to pay their debt off within three years of graduation

Typical monthly student loan payment: $246

Average salary after attending: $48,700

Bergen Community College

Average annual cost: $7,160

Percentage of students receiving federal loans: 15

Debt: 72 percent of students begin to pay their debt off within three years of graduation.

Typical monthly student loan payment: $105

Average salary after attending: $35,500

DeVry University - New Brunswick Campus

DeVry University is a four-year for-profit college with campuses throughout the United States.

Average annual cost: $15,518

Percentage of students receiving federal loans: 82

Debt: 54 percent of students begin to pay their debt off within three years of graduation

Typical monthly student loan payment: $478

Average salary after attending: Data not available

Eastwick College

Eastwick College is a two-year for-profit college based in Ramsey.

Average Annual Cost: $30,039

Percentage of students receiving federal loans: 69

Debt: 69 percent of students begin to pay their debt off within three years of graduation

Typical monthly student loan payment: $161

Average salary after attending: $34,800

Note: The average annual cost is owed after aid is given. The nationwide average is $16,789. The percentage of college graduates who begin paying down their debt within three years is 67 percent. The median salary of people who receive federal aid after 10 years is $34,343.