The cost of college in New Jersey — and what it pays back
Across the 78 New Jersey institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $20,418/yr, $3,516 above the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $46,396 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 34 of the 78 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How New Jersey's 78 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton University | $6,128 | $110,066 | 0.4 yrs |
| Yeshiva Toras Chaim | $5,356 | $62,526 | 1.5 yrs |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | $16,504 | $84,276 | 1.8 yrs |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | $41,346 | $108,772 | 2.7 yrs |
| Rutgers University-Camden | $18,745 | $74,479 | 2.9 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex College | $2,288 | $46,861 | no payback |
| Essex County College | $4,436 | $37,230 | no payback |
| Mercer County Community College | $5,279 | $43,264 | no payback |
| Rowan College at Burlington County | $5,344 | $44,745 | no payback |
| Yeshiva Toras Chaim | $5,356 | $62,526 | 1.5 yrs |
How many New Jersey colleges actually pay for themselves?
34 of 78 — 44% of the New Jersey institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do New Jersey graduates out-earn the national median?
New Jersey graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $2,848 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.