(MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ) -- Brookdale Community College earned the number one community college distinction in New Jersey on Niche's 2023 Best Community Colleges in New Jersey list. Niche is known for its comprehensive rankings of schools, universities, and communities. With updated data for 4,050 colleges nationwide, they've released rankings this year focusing on the value of education.
"Even before the pandemic, high school students and their families were questioning the value of higher education, in large part due to how expensive it's become in the past 20 years or so," said Niche Principal Strategist Ryan Bell. "Our updates to our value methodology come at a time when prospective college students are more intent on choosing a school that will yield a good return on investment than ever before."
However, cost remains just one of the many factors considered. Brookdale received the top grade from Niche among the state's 19 community colleges based on acceptance rate, quality of professors, diversity, student life, safety, and location. Nationally, Brookdale earned a place in the top 20 percent, earning spot #177 of 906 institutions on Niche's list of the Best Community Colleges in America.
Niche's rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education, the American Community Survey, a postsecondary education data system, and student and alumni surveys regarding academics at the school. (see more about Niche's methodology) The 2023 rankings feature an updated methodology to better evaluate students' earnings immediately after graduation and in years to come.
A student giving Brookdale a 5-star rating said, "I cannot say enough good things about Brookdale CC! The opportunities are endless, and the extremely helpful staff help make your dreams a reality. The advising office has gotten me through many challenging decisions in my college career and the efficiency of the financial aid office has made my college education a possibility!"
"Brookdale is a lovely school and there is nowhere else I would have rather spent my first two years of college," said an alumnus. "My professors were kind and constructive, my selection of classes was robust, and I learned things that I am confident will have an effect on me for the rest of my days."
Choosing where to go to college is a major life decision. With more data and tools available, Niche seeks to give students and parents as much information as possible to help navigate the college search process.
Brookdale Community College is a public college in Lincroft, New Jersey. Founded in 1967, Brookdale offers AA, AFA, AS, and AAS degrees in 75 academic programs, 7 Academic Credit Certificates, and 11 Academic Credit Certificates of Achievement. In addition, Brookdale has fully online degree programs in Business Administration, English, History, Liberal Education, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Social Sciences, and Cybersecurity Certificate of Achievement. Furthermore, they offer partnerships with top four-year colleges and universities to make the transfer process seamless and with local businesses to provide students with the opportunities to achieve their educational and career goals. In addition, Brookdale offers non-degree courses through their Office of Continuing & Professional Studies. This unique division provides coursework tailored to meet today’s businesses’ training needs.
