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 - the shortest in our dataset - and $48,200 median 6-year earnings rising to $74,479 at 10 years. 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 of 58.8% is among the highest for any Strong Value institution in this database - Rutgers-Newark delivers meaningful economic mobility for low-income students when they complete.
Rutgers University-Newark scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, 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 |
| Median 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). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $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.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $21,500 in federal loans, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $74,479 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.45, 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 median 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. These are moderate costs for a New York-adjacent university. Total four-year costs of $71,000-$91,000 are well below comparable private institutions in New Jersey and New York. 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, approaching out-of-state-like pricing at the top of the income scale. Even at this price, $132,000 over four years is substantially less than comparable private business schools in the New York metro. For high-income families prioritizing New York metro career access over brand prestige, 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. Year-one earnings of $68,338 are competitive with much higher-cost private business schools in the region. 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. Year-one earnings of $68,141 reflect the premium that New York-area accounting firms pay relative to national averages. 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 - business generalists in this market earn more than comparable graduates in lower-cost regions. 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 | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.7% | 72.0% |
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.
Rutgers-Newark's Scorecard peers include Bloomfield College of Montclair State, Rowan University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Farmingdale State. Rutgers-Newark (ROI 82) is the strongest performer in this peer group by a clear margin, primarily because of its New York metro labor market access and the strength of its finance and accounting programs. UMBC is a comparably strong value in a different metro. Rowan is a competitive alternative for New Jersey students. The 63.8% completion rate is the meaningful gap versus better-resourced institutions. Students who commit to Rutgers-Newark's business programs and leverage the NYC proximity effectively will find it difficult to find a better public university value in the Northeast.
| 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 - the student body is among the most demographically representative of any public university in the Northeast, 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.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $21,500 owed against $74,479 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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 - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $19,703 a year, or roughly $78,812 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. 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. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Rutgers University-Newark graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $21,500, against $74,479 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at Rutgers University-Newark?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.7%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. 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.