Caldwell University
Caldwell, New Jersey · Private Nonprofit · 71.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 40/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Caldwell University is a small Dominican Catholic school in New Jersey with 1,575 students and a Below Benchmark rating of 40. The numbers justify that rating. Average earnings at six years are $36,100. Net price averages $24,691. The payback period is 12.7 years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.693 is high. The completion rate of 57.5% means more than four in ten students do not finish. Nursing is the sole bright spot, with 80 graduates earning $88,550 in year one. But outside nursing, most programs score C or worse on ROI. Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Communication Studies all carry F grades. The Pell Grant rate of 48.6% means nearly half the student body has significant financial need - and those students are being charged $18,059 per year at the lowest income bracket, which is a heavy burden against the school's median outcomes.
How Caldwell University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score40/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
Caldwell University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,848/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,848/yr |
| Average net price | $24,691/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $98,764 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,843 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,575 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $40,848/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,691/year, or roughly $98,764 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $18,059/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,449/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,100) and comes to 0.69, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $18,059 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,000 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,793 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,425 |
| $110,001+ | $30,449 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families earning under $30,000 pay $18,059 per year at Caldwell. Over four years that is $72,000. Against average six-year earnings of $36,100, the math is difficult. This is a school where nearly half the students have significant financial need but the net price for that group exceeds $18k annually. For low-income students not pursuing nursing, Caldwell is a risky financial choice.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $18,000; the $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $22,793; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $31,425. The climb from the lowest middle-income bracket to the upper bracket is over $13,000 - a steep slope that significantly increases cost for families just above the lowest tier.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110k+) pay $30,449 - close to full freight. The 0.693 debt-to-earnings ratio and average six-year earnings of $36,100 make this a poor financial outcome relative to cost for families paying full rate outside of nursing.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Caldwell University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $103,559 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $74,113 | D |
| Psychology | $56,977 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,225 | F |
| Biology | $50,056 | B |
| Accounting | $69,147 | - |
| Public Health | $61,691 | - |
| Teacher Education | $60,433 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $57,307 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the only strong financial program at Caldwell. With 80 graduates per year, first-year earnings of $88,550, and four-year earnings of $103,559, this program delivers A-tier outcomes. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.305 with a B+ grade is solid. Northern New Jersey has dense healthcare infrastructure - hospital systems, long-term care facilities, and outpatient networks - that absorbs BSN graduates well. Caldwell nurses are competitive for positions at Atlantic Health System, RWJBarnabas Health, and similar regional employers. For students choosing Caldwell specifically for nursing, the financial case holds. The program carries the entire school's ROI score.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration at Caldwell is a mediocre financial bet. First-year earnings are $31,248 with four-year earnings of $74,113. The first-year figure is $31,248. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.844 with a D grade.
Biology
Biology produces 21 graduates per year with four-year earnings of $50,056 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.445 with a B grade. Most biology graduates from small private schools enter healthcare-adjacent roles or pursue graduate/professional school. At Caldwell, the four-year earnings of $50,056 suggest graduates who do not pursue advanced degrees land in modestly-paying science roles. Students planning to use biology as a pre-med track should evaluate Caldwell's medical school placement rates, as the program's raw earnings data does not capture that outcome pipeline.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 58.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 63.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Caldwell University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 71.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-740 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-630 |
| Enrollment | 1,575 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 48.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,318 |
Caldwell accepts 71.3% of applicants. SAT math 25th-75th runs 590-740 and reading 540-630. The broad spread of ranges suggests varying academic preparation among admitted students. The 590 SAT math floor at the 25th percentile is notable.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Caldwell scores 40, solidly in Below Benchmark territory.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell University (this school) | 40 | $24,691 | $53,843 |
| Drew University | 63 | $24,280 | $63,646 |
| Centenary University | 53 | $20,503 | $53,726 |
| Capital University | 44 | $22,576 | $54,143 |
| Adrian College | 39 | $25,368 | $55,504 |
| Springfield College | 36 | $30,587 | $48,036 |
Who Thrives Here
Caldwell primarily serves New Jersey students from working and middle-class families who want a small Catholic college experience. SAT math runs 590-740 and reading 540-630, a relatively wide range. The 48.6% Pell rate and 71% admissions rate indicate broad accessibility. Students who enter nursing and complete the degree get reasonable outcomes.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Caldwell University scores 40/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $24,691 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $53,843 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 12.7 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 65.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Caldwell University: Common Questions
Is Caldwell University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Caldwell University scores 40/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $24,691 a year after aid against $53,843 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 12.7 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Caldwell University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $24,691 a year, or roughly $98,764 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Caldwell University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,843 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,043 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Caldwell University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.7 years for Caldwell University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Caldwell University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $36,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Caldwell University?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.