Sussex College Cost Low, Default Rate High

The cost to attend Sussex County Community College is low compared to its national counterparts, according to a new, interactive website designed by the United States Department of Education.

The website, created after President Barack Obama called for colleges to be held accountable for “cost, value and quality,” gives families and prospective students critical information to make decisions on college choices, according to the Department of Education.

According to the scorecard, the net price (cost of enrollment after grants and scholarships are deducted) to attend SCCC is $6,572 annually. That cost rose 13.8-percent from 2007 to 2009, the analysis showed.

“We know students and families are often overwhelmed in the college search process­–but feel they lack the tools to sort through the information and decide which school is right for them,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in a statement. “The College Scorecard provides a snapshot about an institution’s cost and value to help families make smart decisions about where to enroll.”

While the cost was low to attend the school, so was the graduation rate. Just 23.1-percent of full-time students graduated from the school, while 19.1-percent transferred to another institution, the scorecard showed.

One category SCCC was far behind the national average was loan default rate. Students borrowing funds via federal student loans defaulted within three years of repayment at a 21.4-percent rate, while the U.S. average was just 13.4-percent, the study showed.

To see the College Scorecard and other colleges ranked, go here.

Do you think this tool will be helpful for prospective college students and their families? Will you use it to help make college decisions?