Union County College is the first and oldest community college in Union County, New Jersey, and was established in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt under the Works Progress Administration. Union County College’s main campus is located in Cranford, surrounded by Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains, and is a 40-minute drive from New York City. Each year, approximately 12,000 credit and non-credit students attend Union County College. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and ranks among the top 150 most valuable community colleges in the United States. Union County College offers over 80 programs, including Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees, as well as various certificate programs.
Flexible Academic Pathways: 2+2 Transfer and Vocational Education in Parallel
One of United County College’s strengths is its comprehensive transfer system. Graduates have transferred to over 500 colleges and universities across the United States. Students can transfer directly to the third year at Rutgers University, ranked among the top 25 in the U.S., provided they have successfully completed an associate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher over two years. Through partnerships with universities such as Montclair State University, Kean University, and Fairleigh Dickinson University, students can transfer directly into their junior year upon completing an associate degree. The college offers over 80 majors, including Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Nursing, Business, Engineering, and Criminal Justice. The most popular majors are Health Sciences (32%), Arts and Humanities (31%), and Business (16%). The Nursing program partners with RWJBarnabas Health, New Jersey’s largest healthcare system, and the Health Sciences program features state-of-the-art simulation labs.
A Degree Is the Best Investment You Can Make
A degree from Union County College offers the highest return on investment. According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, Union County College graduates earn an average annual salary of $36,000 ten years after graduation, which is 5% higher than the national median for graduates; graduates with an associate’s degree in business have a median early-career annual salary of $42,000, which is 40% higher than the average salary for graduates in the same field nationwide; American University Diplomas Are the Best Investment You Can Make in Life
Graduates in Computer and Information Science have an average early-career median annual salary of $53,900. The average student loan debt is $10,500, with an average monthly payment of only about $108—far lower than the debt levels of four-year college graduates. Taking business majors as an example, total tuition for two years is less than $20,000, yet graduates’ average early-career annual salary is $42,000, allowing them to recoup the full cost of their education in less than a year. Whether students choose to transfer to top universities like Rutgers University through a 2+2 program or enter New Jersey’s thriving healthcare, technology, or finance industries directly with this vocational diploma, this two-year investment in education can provide lifelong career benefits.
