Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Toms River, New Jersey
Ocean County College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$16,424Annual Cost
$45,210Grad Salary
26.5%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$10,576
Need-Based Aid
26.5% receive Pell
Ocean County College serves New Jersey's coastal region from its 275-acre main campus in Toms River. Established in 1964, OCC offers over 50 academic programs with particular strengths in marine science, nursing, and criminal justice. The campus features the state-of-the-art STEM Building and the Jay and Linda Grunin Center for the Arts.
OCC's 'Honors College' provides enhanced academic opportunities, while its 'Lifelong Learning Institute' serves older adults. The college maintains strong transfer agreements with Rutgers and other universities. OCC's 'Marine Science Field Station' on Barnegat Bay supports hands-on coastal research.
Ocean County College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Ocean County College is inclusive by design: 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Ocean County College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Ocean County College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
OCC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at OCC
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Ocean County College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Ocean County College (OCC) Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at OCC — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into OCC Without SAT or ACT?
OCC's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for OCC
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
OCC's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Establish Ocean County residency and secure it in writing before you apply to nursing
OCC's Traditional Nursing Program admits on a first-come, first-served basis by "date of completion" of requirements - but Ocean County residents are accepted before out-of-county residents, and every Letter of Intent requires a copy of your driver's license proving county residency. If you're not yet an Ocean County resident, understand you're competing in an effectively later, smaller pool.
File a new Letter of Intent every single semester - it's not a one-time form
Nursing applicants must submit a Letter of Intent to the Registration and Records Office every semester they're pursuing prerequisites, not just once at the start. Students who assume one submission covers their entire pre-nursing period can find their "date of completion" tracking has lapsed without them realizing it.
Choose your admission-eligibility path deliberately: test scores, GPA, or existing bachelor's degree
OCC nursing offers three distinct qualifying routes - a combined SAT of 1100 (or ACT 24), a 2.7 cumulative GPA with general education requirements completed, or an existing bachelor's degree with A&P I/II completed within the last 10 years. If your GPA or test scores are borderline, a completed bachelor's degree from another field can be a faster, cleaner path in - worth discussing with an advisor rather than assuming you must retake the SAT.
If a BSN is the real goal, plan around the Kean-Ocean partnership from your first semester
OCC's nursing AAS feeds directly into a Kean University BSN completion track (Kean-Ocean), letting students plan a specific four-year pathway without guessing which four-year nursing programs will accept OCC credits. Build your gen-ed sequence around Kean's suggested curriculum from day one rather than figuring out transfer credit after finishing the AAS.
Expert Insight:
Because OCC's general admission is fully open-door and rolling, students sometimes assume nursing follows the same low-friction logic. It doesn't: admission is ranked by "date of completion" of specific requirements, prioritized by county residency, and requires a background check plus repeated semester-by-semester Letters of Intent. A student who "meets requirements" late, or from outside Ocean County, can find themselves waiting far longer than someone who front-loaded prerequisites and residency early.
OCC Profile
Full Name
Ocean County College (OCC)
City
Toms River
State
New Jersey
ZIP Code
08754-2001
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a OCC Degree Worth It?
At $16,424/year against a $45,210 median graduate salary, OCC is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $69,800, and graduates see a 2.95% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from OCC Cost?
Listed tuition runs $16,424/year at OCC; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $10,576.
At OCC, 26.5% receive a Pell Grant and 6.3% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming OCC on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a OCC Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, OCC graduates report a median income of $45,210, about 11% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at OCC
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About OCC Admissions
Ocean County College graduates earn a lower median salary of $45,210/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Ocean County College is relatively affordable, around $16,424/year.
26.5% of Ocean County College students get a Pell Grant. Your odds depend mostly on household income — filing FAFSA early still helps maximize what you're offered.
Ocean County College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before March 1, 2026 — that's Ocean County College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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