Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, New Jersey · Public · 71.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 82/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Rutgers University-Newark scores 82 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, anchored by a 5.5-year payback period and $48,200 average 6-year earnings and $74,479 median 10-year earnings. The 63.8% completion rate is the main drag on the score; it reflects the challenges of serving a predominantly urban, high-Pell (58.8%) student body in Newark. But graduates who finish do very well: Finance (190 graduates) earns $68,338 at year one and $100,695 at year four; Computer and Information Sciences (82 graduates) earns $80,448 at year one and $125,303 at year four; Accounting (157 graduates) earns $68,141 at year one. Rutgers-Newark's location in Essex County, adjacent to Manhattan and the New York financial district, creates placement pipelines that larger state universities outside the metro cannot replicate. The Pell rate is 58.8% - Rutgers-Newark delivers meaningful economic mobility for low-income students when they complete.
Rutgers University-Newark scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Rutgers University-Newark
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $17,250/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,762/yr |
| Average net price | $19,703/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $78,812 |
| 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 | 5.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,709 |
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: $17,250/year ($36,762/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 $19,703/year, or roughly $78,812 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 $16,420/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,018/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 | $16,420 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,338 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,806 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,867 |
| $110,001+ | $33,018 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $16,420 net per year at Rutgers-Newark. With a Pell grant rate of 58.8%, this institution specifically serves low-income students at scale. Four-year costs around $65,000 against a 5.5-year payback and $48,200 average 6-year earnings make the case for low-income students who complete. The 63.8% completion rate is the risk factor - students who do not finish incur debt without the credential. For those who do complete finance, accounting, or CS, the economic mobility story here is genuine.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $17,806 per year, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $22,867. Middle-income families who can take advantage of the New York metro recruiting pipelines - particularly in finance and accounting - will find Rutgers-Newark's value case compelling.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $33,018 net per year. For high-income families prioritizing New York metro career access, Rutgers-Newark's finance and accounting programs produce outcomes competitive with schools charging two to three times as much.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Rutgers University-Newark with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $56,479 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $61,817 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $100,695 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $83,606 | B |
| Biology | $68,306 | D |
| Accounting | $89,087 | B+ |
| Marketing | $74,813 | B |
| Social Work | $56,797 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $125,303 | B+ |
| Management Information Systems | $89,098 | B |
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.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (82 graduates) earns $80,448 at year one and $125,303 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.267 (ROI grade B+). These are exceptional outcomes for an in-state public university: $80,000+ starting earnings against an in-state tuition of $17,250. Rutgers-Newark CS graduates enter a labor market that includes New York-area tech companies, financial technology firms, and the increasingly tech-heavy financial services sector in lower Manhattan and Jersey City.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (190 graduates) earns $68,338 at year one and $100,695 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.329 (ROI grade B+). Rutgers-Newark's finance program has a direct recruiting pipeline to Wall Street banks, asset managers, and insurance companies in the New York metro. This is the clearest financial ROI case at Rutgers-Newark.
Accounting
Accounting (157 graduates) earns $68,141 at year one and $89,087 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.334 (ROI grade B+). Rutgers-Newark is consistently recognized for accounting program quality in the New York-New Jersey metro. Big Four and regional firm recruiting is active. Median debt of $22,770 is comfortably serviceable.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (189 graduates) earns $58,896 at year one and $83,606 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.395 (ROI grade B). At in-state net prices, this is a strong financial outcome. The four-year trajectory to $83,606 reflects the New York metro labor market premium. Median debt of $23,250 is manageable.
Management Information Systems
Management Information Systems (63 graduates) earns $63,023 at year one and $89,098 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.356 (ROI grade B). MIS bridges business and technology - a combination in high demand at New York-area financial services and consulting firms. Year-one earnings of $63,023 are strong, and the four-year trajectory to $89k reflects the New York premium for tech-business hybrid roles.
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-Newark’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 | 71.4% |
| Enrollment | 7,709 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 58.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $16,467 |
Rutgers-Newark's 71.4% acceptance rate makes it broadly accessible to qualified New Jersey applicants. No test score thresholds are published in current Scorecard data. The in-state advantage is significant: in-state tuition of $17,250 against out-of-state $36,762 creates a substantial cost difference that changes the ROI calculation dramatically. Out-of-state students should model both scenarios carefully before applying.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-Newark (this school) | 82 | $19,703 | $74,479 |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | 84 | $16,467 | $69,960 |
| Farmingdale State College | 83 | $10,867 | $69,781 |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | 75 | $13,310 | $59,637 |
| Rowan University | 66 | $22,408 | $59,988 |
| Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | 50 | $28,014 | $61,415 |
Who Thrives Here
Rutgers-Newark admits 71.4% of applicants with no published standardized test ranges in current data. Enrollment is 7,709. The campus is urban, diverse, and commuter-oriented, with over 58% Pell-eligible students. Students who excel here are typically self-directed, career-focused, and able to leverage the school's Newark-Manhattan location for internships, networking, and full-time employment. The business school is consistently strong in accounting and finance recruiting from Wall Street and Newark-area firms.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Rutgers University-Newark pays off. You'd pay about $19,703 a year after aid ($78,812 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 5.5 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-Newark: Common Questions
Is Rutgers University-Newark worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Rutgers University-Newark pays off. It scores 82/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $19,703 a year after aid ($78,812 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,479 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.5 years to earn back.
How much does Rutgers University-Newark 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 $19,703 a year, or roughly $78,812 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-Newark 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-Newark?
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 5.5 years for Rutgers University-Newark. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Rutgers University-Newark 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-Newark?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.7%. 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.