College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges in New Jersey
Attending college in the Garden State can mean being surrounded by colonial-era architecture and peaceful rolling, forested hills … or having easy access to some of the biggest, brightest and best cities the east coast has to offer, including the Big Apple. If you’re considering a school in New Jersey, it’s important to know where your dollars will go the farthest. Using Payscale’s college ROI report, you can research and compare which New Jersey colleges provide the biggest return on investment by measuring the 20-year net ROI, which is the amount of money a student can expect to earn over a 20-year period after graduating from a particular school. Consult our guide to save yourself some time and application money.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: Stevens Institute of Technology (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,051,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$300,000 | Graduation Rate:88% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$42,400 |
| Rank:2 | School Name: Princeton University (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$1,049,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$301,000 | Graduation Rate:97% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$30,200 |
| Rank:3 | School Name:_50px.jpg) New Jersey Institute of Technology (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$888,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$157,000 | Graduation Rate:74% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$29,900 |
| Rank:4 | School Name:New Jersey Institute of Technology (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$824,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$221,000 | Graduation Rate:74% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$29,900 |
| Rank:5 | School Name: Rutgers University-New Brunswick (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$720,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$136,000 | Graduation Rate:84% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$32,200 |
| Rank:6 | School Name: Rutgers University-Newark (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$653,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$137,000 | Graduation Rate:66% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$25,900 |
| Rank:7 | School Name:Rutgers University-New Brunswick (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$652,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$205,000 | Graduation Rate:84% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$32,200 |
| Rank:8 | School Name:_50px.jpg) The College of New Jersey (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$635,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$145,000 | Graduation Rate:86% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$40,100 |
| Rank:9 | School Name:The College of New Jersey (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$586,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$194,000 | Graduation Rate:86% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$40,100 |
| Rank:10 | School Name:Rutgers University-Newark (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$584,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$205,000 | Graduation Rate:66% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$25,900 |
Consistently offering one of the highest ROI’s in New Jersey, it’s hard to believe the Stevens Institute of Technology isn’t an Ivy League college. But other than the financial reward of attending college here, there are more factors about Steven’s that make it great. Located in Hoboken, Stevens Institute of Technology is just across the river from the bright lights of New York City. This is great for students looking to get their foot in the workforce, as the variety of companies and services in New York City is considerable.
The New Jersey Institute of Technology, a public research university, is located in the University Heights neighborhood of Newark, and around 80 percent of its students choose to commute to class.
A school that needs no introduction, Princeton University produces some of the world’s most prestigious and notable alumni, including first lady Michelle Obama, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and even the X Files’ David Duchovny.
Although New Jersey is one of the smallest states in the US, it’s home to 62 colleges: thirty-three public, and 29 private. But the calling of college isn’t the only reason people choose to make New Jersey their home for four years. New Jersey is a melting pot of people from an incredible number of backgrounds and nationalities. With that said, the cuisine is just one of the perks of living in New Jersey. New Jersey has been credited for the development of the submarine sandwich, and the supreme cuisine we call cheesesteaks. And of course, it’s an irrefutable fact that the best pizza in America comes from the Garden State.
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