Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, New Jersey · Public · 71.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 82/100 · Strong Value
Rutgers University-Newark scores 82 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, anchored by a 5.5-year payback period -- the shortest in this batch -- 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 sticker price at Rutgers University-Newark is $17,250/year ($36,762/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $19,703/year, or roughly $78,812 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,420/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,018/year.
The median graduate leaves with $21,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $228 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $74,479 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.45 - well within manageable territory.
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
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
Rutgers University-Newark delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $19,703 per year ($78,812 over four years), graduates earn a median of $74,479 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 5.5 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $21,500 is very manageable against $74,479 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.