Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, New Jersey · Public · 66.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 84/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Rutgers University-Camden scores 84 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. Median debt of $21,500 is moderate. The completion rate is 66.7%. Registered Nursing (267 graduates) is the institution's largest high-earnings program at $87,594 first-year and a B+ ROI grade. The Camden campus sits across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, giving students access to a major metropolitan job market that inflates post-graduation earnings beyond what South Jersey alone would produce.
Rutgers University-Camden scores in the top 10% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Rutgers University-Camden
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $17,764/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,276/yr |
| Average net price | $18,745/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,980 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $74,479 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,753 |
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: $17,764/year ($37,276/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $18,745/year, or roughly $74,980 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 $13,797/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,639/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,200) and comes to 0.45, which in our view is 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 | $13,797 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,357 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,184 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,475 |
| $110,001+ | $30,639 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $13,797 net per year at Rutgers-Camden - a strong value for a Rutgers credential in the Philadelphia metro. At $55,200 four-year net cost, low-income students who graduate and enter nursing or tech fields face payback periods under 5 years. The 47.7% Pell grant rate shows this population represents Camden's core demographic, and the institution's strong repayment data relative to cost suggests the investment works for students who complete.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $16,184 per year, and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $20,475. These are competitive prices for a Rutgers degree. Against $48,200 average 6-year earnings and a 5.4-year payback, the financial case is strong for middle-income families. Engineering, nursing, and business graduates from Camden entering the Philadelphia market will typically outperform these median figures, improving the ROI further.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,000+) pay $30,639 per year. At $48,200 average earnings the aggregate payback is manageable, and the Rutgers name carries weight in Philadelphia and New York hiring. High-income families with nursing or engineering-bound students will find Camden a well-priced option; for general studies students the case is weaker.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Rutgers University-Camden with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $99,155 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $83,606 | B |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $68,108 | C |
| Psychology | $56,479 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $61,817 | C |
| Social Work | $56,797 | C |
| Biology | $68,306 | D |
| Marketing | $74,813 | B |
| English Language and Literature | $55,337 | D |
| International Relations | $63,765 | 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 Camden's defining program: 267 graduates, $87,594 first-year earnings, $99,155 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.320 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $28,000 is manageable against immediate RN wages. This program justifies the Rutgers-Camden decision for healthcare-bound students on its own.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer Science (36 graduates) earns $80,448 first-year and $125,303 at four years - the highest four-year earnings on campus - with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.267 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $21,500 is low relative to earnings velocity. Philadelphia's tech sector and the broader New York-Philadelphia corridor provide strong employment access. The jump from $80k to $125k in four years reflects both career progression and the premium the Rutgers name adds in regional tech hiring. The small cohort makes the data point somewhat fragile but directionally sound.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Camden's second-largest program at 234 graduates, with $58,896 first-year earnings, $83,606 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.395 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $23,250 is moderate. The four-year earnings at $83k reflect that business graduates accessing the Philadelphia market earn substantially more than the campus median.
Psychology
Psychology is one of Camden's largest programs at 104 graduates, with $31,280 first-year earnings, $56,479 at four years, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.799 (ROI grade D). Against $25,000 median debt, these earnings produce slow repayment. The year-one figure is $31,280. Most psychology bachelor's graduates require graduate school for clinical roles, adding additional cost. Students choosing psychology at Camden should be planning for graduate school and making that investment decision explicitly.
Biology
Biology (52 graduates) earns $32,024 at year one and $68,306 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.754 (ROI grade D). The year-one figure is low because most biology graduates are in graduate or professional school pipelines (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy). The four-year jump to $68k reflects those graduates who complete professional school within the follow-up window. At Camden, biology's value depends almost entirely on post-graduate medical or health professional school placement, not the bachelor's degree alone.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Rutgers University-Camden’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 | 66.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-25 |
| Enrollment | 3,753 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 47.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,127 |
At 66.3% admission rate with an SAT range of 510-660 Math and 540-640 Reading, Camden is accessible but not open-access. The ACT 19-25 composite range is wide, capturing both modest and solid academic preparation. Students in the middle of this range are admitted; the question is preparation to succeed once enrolled, given the 66.7% completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Rutgers-Camden's ROI score is 84. Camden's payback period is 5.4 years.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-Camden (this school) | 84 | $18,745 | $74,479 |
| University of Florida-Online | 91 | $4,815 | $71,588 |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | 82 | $18,211 | $67,316 |
| CUNY York College | 72 | $4,456 | $56,945 |
| Rowan University | 66 | $22,408 | $59,988 |
| Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | 50 | $28,014 | $61,415 |
Who Thrives Here
Rutgers-Camden admits 66.3% of applicants (SAT mid-range 510-660 Math, 540-640 Reading; ACT 19-25). At 3,753 students and 47.7% Pell grant rate, this is a diverse, access-oriented institution with significant first-generation enrollment. Camden fits students who want a Rutgers credential with smaller class sizes, Philadelphia proximity, and affordable in-state pricing. It is a poor fit for students seeking a traditional large-campus residential experience; the campus is urban and commuter-heavy.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Rutgers University-Camden pays off. You'd pay about $18,745 a year after aid ($74,980 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,479 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, 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.
Rutgers University-Camden: Common Questions
Is Rutgers University-Camden worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Rutgers University-Camden pays off. It scores 84/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $18,745 a year after aid ($74,980 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,479 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.4 years to earn back.
How much does Rutgers University-Camden 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 $18,745 a year, or roughly $74,980 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 Rutgers University-Camden graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $74,479 ten years after enrolling, roughly $32,679 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 Rutgers University-Camden?
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 5.4 years for Rutgers University-Camden. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Rutgers University-Camden graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $48,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45. 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 Rutgers University-Camden?
The six-year graduation rate is 66.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.