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The College of New Jersey — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Ewing, NJ · 7,105 students

The verdict

The College of New Jersey charges a net price of $27,646/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $110,584. Graduates earn a median $73,323 ten years after entry, $24,963/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.4 years — a 20-year net return of $388,676, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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The College of New Jersey's 4.4-year payback ranks #350 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 73% of them, and #11 of 78 in New Jersey.

Better ROI than 73% of US colleges#350 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$27,646
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$73,323
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
4.4 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
62%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
The College of New Jersey: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$27,646/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$110,584our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$73,323Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$24,963/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$23,250Scorecard, 2026
Payback4.4 yrsour math
20-year net return$388,676our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on The College of New Jersey's own numbers. Net price $27,646 × 4 years = $110,584 total. Median earnings $73,323 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $24,963 a year of premium. $110,584 ÷ $24,963 = 4.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $388,676. 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 The College of New Jersey students graduate with?

A median $23,250 in federal loans among completers, or 32% of the $73,323 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of The College of New Jersey students graduate?

86% finish their degree. Spread the $110,584 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $128,586 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is The College of New Jersey expensive compared with other New Jersey colleges?

Its $27,646 net price runs $7,229 above the $20,418 median across the 78 New Jersey colleges we profile, or $28,914 more across the full degree.

The College of New Jersey: frequently asked questions

Is The College of New Jersey worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. The College of New Jersey charges $27,646/yr after aid ($110,584 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $73,323 ten years out — $24,963/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 4.4 years and returns $388,676 net over 20 years, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast.
How long does a The College of New Jersey degree take to pay off?
About 4.4 years. We divide the $110,584 four-year net cost by the $24,963/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does The College of New Jersey cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $27,646/yr — about $110,584 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does The College of New Jersey compare to other New Jersey colleges?
It ranks #11 of 78 New Jersey colleges we track by payback. Its $73,323 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $27,646 net price is above the national median of $16,902.