New Jersey Institute of Technology vs Rutgers University-Newark: which has better ROI?
New Jersey Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $66,016 in 1.8 years versus 3 years at Rutgers University-Newark, on median earnings of $84,276 vs $74,479 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Rutgers University-Newark |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,504 | $19,703 |
| Total net cost | $66,016 | $78,812 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $84,276 | $74,479 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | 3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $652,304 | $443,568 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, New Jersey Institute of Technology or Rutgers University-Newark?
New Jersey Institute of Technology, at $16,504 a year after aid versus $19,703 — a gap of $3,199 a year, or $12,796 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do New Jersey Institute of Technology or Rutgers University-Newark graduates earn more?
New Jersey Institute of Technology graduates report a median $84,276 ten years after entry, $9,797 more than the $74,479 at Rutgers University-Newark. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, New Jersey Institute of Technology or Rutgers University-Newark?
New Jersey Institute of Technology: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Rutgers University-Newark, a difference of $500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at New Jersey Institute of Technology, against 64% at Rutgers University-Newark. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.