Centenary University
Hackettstown, New Jersey · Private Nonprofit · 83.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 53/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Centenary University scores 53 (Below Average Value). Average 6-year earnings of $41,700 against an 11.9-year payback period make this a difficult financial case. The 56.1% completion rate means nearly half of entering students do not graduate, compounding the risk. Business Administration (70 graduates) is the largest program and the clearest case for enrollment; most other programs produce earnings outcomes that struggle to justify Centenary's price point.
Centenary University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,732/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,732/yr |
| Average net price | $20,503/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $82,012 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,726 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,163 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 910 |
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: $37,732/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,503/year, or roughly $82,012 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 $13,329/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,735/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,163, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,700) and comes to 0.56, 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 | $13,329 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,047 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,277 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,306 |
| $110,001+ | $28,735 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-$30,000) pay $13,329 per year at Centenary - $53,316 over four years. Against $41,700 average 6-year earnings and an 11.9-year payback period, this is a challenging financial case even at the lowest net price. The 56.1% completion rate means many low-income students will not reach the earnings threshold that makes the investment worthwhile.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $21,277 per year, and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $23,306. The step-up from the lowest brackets is significant - middle-income families pay roughly $85,000-$93,000 over four years at net price, against $41,700 average earnings. The payback period at middle-income net prices extends well beyond the already-weak 11.9-year baseline. Middle-income families face the poorest value proposition at Centenary, paying substantially above the low-income floor without the aid cushion.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,000+) pay $28,735 per year - $114,940 over four years. Full-price attendance at a Below Average Value institution with a 56.1% completion rate requires a specific, compelling reason - a unique program or local need - to justify.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Centenary University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $72,527 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $61,358 | C+ |
| Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services | $40,047 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $42,424 | D |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $27,933 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $67,181 | C |
| Biology | $63,381 | C |
| Social Work | $62,373 | B+ |
| Sociology | $46,031 | D |
| Design and Applied Arts | $50,746 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Centenary's largest program at 70 graduates, earning $49,381 at year one and $72,527 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.536 earns a C+ grade - adequate but not strong at a $20,503 net price. The 4-year trajectory to $72,527 reflects regional business hiring in the New York metro catchment area. This is Centenary's best high-volume ROI case.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is Centenary's second-largest program at 40 graduates, earning $54,633 at year one and $61,358 at year four. Median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.494 earn a C+ grade.
Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services
Agricultural and Domestic Animal Services (19 graduates) - which includes Centenary's equine studies programs - earns $34,104 at year one and $40,047 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.682 (ROI grade C). This is a below-average earnings outcome paired with average debt. The equine industry is geographically concentrated in a relatively small set of regions; graduates entering barn management, riding instruction, or horse sales face a constrained labor market. Students in this program should have a clear plan for career entry rather than assuming the credential opens broad doors.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (13 graduates) earns $37,259 at year one but jumps to $67,181 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 (ROI grade C). The large gap between year-one and year-four earnings likely reflects career progression into law enforcement promotions, corrections supervision, or transition into federal agency roles. The year-one figure may depress apparent ROI - students with a clear path into NJ or federal law enforcement may find the 4-year outcome defensible.
Research and Experimental Psychology
Psychology (14 graduates) earns $27,933 at year one with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.908 (ROI grade D). No year-four data is available. Psychology at Centenary's price point, without a clear graduate school or clinical pathway, is a financially high-risk choice. Students considering this path should model the full cost of the likely master's or doctoral credential required for professional practice.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Centenary 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 | 83.1% |
| Enrollment | 910 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,533 |
Centenary's 83.1% admission rate and absence of SAT/ACT score data describe an accessible, effectively non-selective institution. Admission is not the challenge; persistence to graduation is. With only 56.1% of students completing, prospective students should ask directly about academic support resources, financial aid sustainability across four years, and graduation rates for their specific intended program.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Centenary's ROI is 53.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centenary University (this school) | 53 | $20,503 | $53,726 |
| Drew University | 63 | $24,280 | $63,646 |
| Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 56 | $27,555 | $59,045 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
| Heritage University | 51 | $14,598 | $49,416 |
| Caldwell University | 40 | $24,691 | $53,843 |
Who Thrives Here
Centenary accepts 83.1% of applicants and does not report SAT or ACT data, suggesting a test-optional or low-barrier admissions process. Enrollment is small at 910 students, with a Pell grant rate of 38.3% - a meaningful share of the student body comes from lower-income families. The school's equine and agricultural programs are niche attractions not found at most NJ institutions. Students who need a specific program in equestrian science or agricultural services, or who want small-class access in a rural NJ setting, may find fit here. For students without a specific niche interest, the financial profile warrants scrutiny.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Centenary University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $20,503 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $53,726 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
Median debt of $23,163 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Centenary University: Common Questions
Is Centenary University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Centenary University scores 53/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,503 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $53,726 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Centenary 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 $20,503 a year, or roughly $82,012 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 Centenary University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,726 ten years after enrolling, roughly $11,926 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 Centenary 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 11.9 years for Centenary University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Centenary University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,163, against average earnings of $41,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Centenary University?
The six-year graduation rate is 56.0%. 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.