Chamberlain University-New Jersey
North Brunswick, New Jersey · Private For-Profit · 100.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 71/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Chamberlain University-New Jersey scores 71 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. This is a for-profit nursing institution with one program in Scorecard - Registered Nursing (299 graduates, C+, $83,188 year-one, $96,132 year-four). The score reflects the tension between strong earnings outcomes and two structural problems: a 33.3% completion rate (sub-score 13) and a 66.5% repayment rate (sub-score 30) - meaning two-thirds of students who enroll do not graduate, and more than a third of borrowers are not successfully paying down debt. The payback period sub-score of 93 (raw 5.1 years) and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.300 (sub-score 95) are exceptional for the students who do complete - $69,800 median six-year earnings against $20,919 median debt is a strong financial outcome. Net price is $37,984, which is high for a nursing-only institution: total sticker tuition is $20,785, but fees and additional costs push the net price to nearly $38,000 annually. Income bracket data is severely limited in Scorecard - only two brackets are reported (0-30000 at $38,904 and 110001-plus at $37,754), with the other three null. The completion rate of 33.3% is the single most important piece of data here: students who complete the Chamberlain NJ nursing program enter a New Jersey healthcare labor market that pays well; students who do not complete have spent $37,984 annually for a partial credential and face the same debt burden with far less earnings leverage.
The data raises concerns about Chamberlain University-New Jersey
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate33.3% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Chamberlain University-New Jersey
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $20,785/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,785/yr |
| Average net price | $37,984/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $151,936 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $92,405 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $69,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,919 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $222 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 33.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,226 |
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: $20,785/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $37,984/year, or roughly $151,936 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 $38,904/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,754/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $20,919 in federal loans, which works out to about $222 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $92,405 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.30, comfortably manageable.
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 | $38,904 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | $37,754 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Scorecard reports the 0-30000 income bracket at $38,904 per year - higher than the $37,984 average net price. This is unusual: the lowest-income bracket at Chamberlain NJ actually pays more than the average. Only two income brackets are reported; the three middle brackets (30001-48000, 48001-75000, 75001-110000) show null values, making a full income analysis impossible. For the lowest-income students at this institution, $38,904 annually is a significant financial commitment, particularly given the 33.3% completion rate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Income bracket data for the 30001-48000, 48001-75000, and 75001-110000 brackets is not reported in Scorecard for Chamberlain NJ. The two available data points ($38,904 for the lowest income tier and $37,754 for the highest) are nearly identical, suggesting the institution offers very little income-based price differentiation. Middle-income families should assume a cost near the $37,984 average net price and evaluate accordingly.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $37,754 - essentially the same as the lowest-income bracket at $38,904. Chamberlain's price is nearly flat across the income spectrum, consistent with a for-profit institution where merit and need-based discounting is limited. Higher-income families are not penalized or rewarded relative to lower-income families. The financial case at any income level rests entirely on completing the nursing credential and entering the NJ healthcare labor market.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Chamberlain University-New Jersey with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $96,132 | C+ |
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
Registered Nursing is the only program at Chamberlain NJ in Scorecard: 299 graduates, $83,188 year-one, $96,132 at year four, C+ grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.471 against $39,146 median debt. Monthly payments on $39,146 run roughly $415. Against an $83k first-year salary, this is manageable - a 6% debt-to-income monthly burden. The C+ grade reflects the elevated debt load relative to a strong earnings profile. Students who complete the nursing program enter New Jersey's tight healthcare labor market with a credential that commands $83k in year one.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Chamberlain University-New Jersey’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2016-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 100.0% |
| Enrollment | 1,226 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,080 |
Chamberlain NJ admits 100% of applicants. There is no academic selection filter. The institution's challenge is not admission but persistence to graduation. At a 33.3% completion rate, the relevant pre-enrollment question is not 'will I get in' but 'what is the plan to complete the nursing program.' Students who do not complete leave with debt and no degree. Given the investment required, students should explore Chamberlain's support services, academic progression requirements, and clinical placement infrastructure before committing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Chamberlain University-NJ (ROI 71) sits in the Fair Value tier. Named peers include West Coast University campuses - comparable for-profit nursing institutions. Among single-program nursing schools in the for-profit sector, Chamberlain NJ's earnings outcomes for completers are strong: $83k year-one in New Jersey's healthcare market is a meaningful outcome. The institution's completion rate of 33.3% is the primary weakness, and it drives the repayment rate problem (66.5%). Students evaluating Chamberlain NJ against comparable nursing programs at public and private nonprofit institutions should weigh the for-profit model's price, completion rate, and debt profile carefully before enrolling.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University-New Jersey (this school) | 71 | $37,984 | $92,405 |
| West Coast University-Texas | 76 | $25,992 | $102,672 |
| West Coast University-Miami | 76 | $32,539 | $102,672 |
| West Coast University-Ontario | 71 | $49,590 | $102,672 |
| Berkeley College-Woodland Park | 16 | $27,100 | $40,251 |
| Eastern International College-Jersey City | 5 | $21,111 | $35,008 |
Who Thrives Here
Chamberlain University-NJ has a reported admission rate of 100% - it is an open-enrollment institution. No SAT or ACT ranges are reported. Enrollment is 1,226. The Pell grant rate of 38.7% reflects a substantial lower-income student population. Chamberlain's sole program is a pre-licensure nursing degree. Students who enroll are choosing a for-profit nursing school in New Jersey's healthcare market - a rational choice given NJ nursing wages, but one that comes with a $38k annual net price and a one-in-three completion rate. Students should investigate what distinguishes completers from non-completers before enrolling.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Chamberlain University-New Jersey is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $37,984 a year after aid ($151,936 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $92,405 a decade out, the cost takes about 5.1 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 33.3% graduation rate, concerning loan repayment rates.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $20,919 owed against $92,405 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.