Career Training Path › New Jersey › Essex County College
Essex County College
Newark, New Jersey · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 303 University Ave, Newark, NJ 07102 · Phone: (973) 877-3000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Essex County College is a public trade school in Newark, NJ offering medical assistant, LPN/LVN, and radiology & sonography programs, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Essex County College's completion rate is 19.9%, below the state average of 61.9%, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $37,230.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Essex County College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, can be used here, and 46.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $37,010 | $47,210 | $49,920 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $63,210 | $75,160 | $79,980 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $71,770 | $95,000 | $103,510 |
| Massage therapists | $33,280 | $50,150 | $58,240 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in New Jersey (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 23 | $52,047 | $59,922 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | $54,661 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Essex County College is a public trade and career campus located in Newark, New Jersey, in a large city setting. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, applies here (title IV eligible). The college is accredited through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, with additional program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. The most common trade programs awarded are medical assistant programs, LPN/LVN programs, and radiology & sonography programs, alongside a massage therapy offering, for four total program families.
Looking at the numbers: the campus completion rate is 19.9%, which is below the state average of 61.9% (completion vs. state average). Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $37,230. Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 46.9% of students receive Pell Grants, and total undergraduate enrollment is 5,855, with 46 trade program completers reported.
This campus may suit students pursuing shorter, credential-focused programs in medical assisting, practical nursing, or radiologic technology rather than longer degree tracks, though specific program lengths are not stated in the data provided. Adult learners and career changers should independently confirm program length, schedule format, and licensing requirements directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and review updated federal outcome data, prospective students can check the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Essex County College offers medical assistant programs, LPN/LVN programs, radiology & sonography programs, and massage therapy programs, totaling four program families.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, with program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, meaning FAFSA and Pell Grants can be used.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 19.9%, which is below the New Jersey state average of 61.9%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt of graduates is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly or check the College Scorecard link for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are reported at $37,230 per the College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (973) 877-3000 or visit essex.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Essex County College is a public institution, which often means lower published tuition rates than for-profit schools, though actual cost is not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and review federal outcome data at the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?184481).
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The program families listed—medical assistant, LPN/LVN, radiology, and massage therapy—are common career-changer fields, but specific fit for adult learners, including schedule format, is not detailed in this data; contact the school to confirm.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing requirements are not detailed in this data; contact the college directly to learn what certification or licensure applies to each program.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Essex County College at (973) 877-3000 or visit https://www.essex.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This data does not include comparative information on other nearby schools; check the College Scorecard to compare completion rates, costs, and earnings across institutions.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.