Kean University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Kean University charges a net price of $12,447/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $49,788. Graduates earn a median $57,237 ten years after entry, $8,877/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.6 years — a 20-year net return of $127,752, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Kean University's 5.6-year payback ranks #488 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 62% of them, and #14 of 78 in New Jersey.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $12,447/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $49,788 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $57,237 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $8,877/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $127,752 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Kean University's own numbers. Net price $12,447 × 4 years = $49,788 total. Median earnings $57,237 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,877 a year of premium. $49,788 ÷ $8,877 = 5.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $127,752. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Kean University students graduate with?
A median $23,250 in federal loans among completers, or 41% of the $57,237 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Kean University students graduate?
47% finish their degree — 53% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $49,788 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $105,932 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Kean University expensive compared with other New Jersey colleges?
Its $12,447 net price runs $7,971 below the $20,418 median across the 78 New Jersey colleges we profile, and $31,882 less across the full degree.