The College of New Jersey
Ewing, New Jersey · Public · 62.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The College of New Jersey scores 83 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - an excellent result for a public institution with $19,632 in-state tuition. Average 6-year earnings of $49,000 are solid, and the 6.5-year payback period is respectable. The repayment rate of 89.3% is high. Median debt is $23,250. The low-income aid model is genuinely strong: the 0-30000 bracket pays $7,908 per year, making TCNJ accessible for low-income New Jersey families. Top programs show strong outputs: Registered Nursing (67 graduates, $85,986 year-one, B+ grade), Computer and Information Sciences (47 graduates, $84,539 year-one, B+ grade), and Accounting (43 graduates, $74,403 year-one, B+ grade). Business Administration is the highest-volume program at 276 graduates, earning $56,286 year-one and $85,978 at year four. At 7,105 undergraduates, TCNJ is a mid-size public with strong regional reputation in New Jersey. Pell grant rate of 21% reflects meaningful access, and the repayment and completion metrics confirm graduates are managing their outcomes well.
The College of New Jersey scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
The College of New Jersey
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $19,632/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,752/yr |
| Average net price | $27,646/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $110,584 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $73,323 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $49,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 85.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,105 |
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: $19,632/year ($25,752/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 $27,646/year, or roughly $110,584 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 $7,908/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,222/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($49,000) and comes to 0.47, 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 | $7,908 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,028 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,642 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,942 |
| $110,001+ | $35,222 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $7,908 per year - under $32,000 over four years. Against average 6-year earnings of $49,000 and an 85.9% completion rate, TCNJ represents exceptional value for low-income New Jersey families. Access to a selective public education at this price point, with the school's repayment rate of 89.3%, is a strong proposition. The binding constraint is admission, not cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families face a meaningful cost step: the 48001-75000 bracket pays $22,642 per year and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $30,942. Four-year cost ranges from $90,000 to $124,000. The 6.5-year payback period at median earnings makes middle-income investment reasonable.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $35,222 per year - about $141,000 over four years. The 83 ROI score and strong completion and repayment metrics support the investment. Programs like nursing and accounting produce year-one earnings that recover even this cost within a few years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at The College of New Jersey with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $85,978 | B |
| Biology | $75,531 | D |
| Psychology | $62,397 | D |
| Teacher Education | $59,328 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $68,654 | C |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $51,033 | D |
| Special Education and Teaching | $66,767 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $104,369 | B+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $61,605 | C |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $62,281 | 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 (67 graduates) is the top-earning program: $85,986 year-one, $104,369 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.305, median debt $26,204). Year-one nursing earnings at TCNJ are strong by regional standards. The four-year trajectory to $104k reflects career progression in New Jersey's healthcare market. Debt-to-earnings of 0.305 is reasonable. This is a high-value program at public pricing.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (47 graduates) earns $84,539 year-one and $105,377 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.285, median debt $24,125). Strong year-one earnings reflect New Jersey's proximity to New York City technology employers. Four-year trajectory to $105k is solid. The B+ grade on a public university price base represents excellent value.
Accounting
Accounting (43 graduates) earns $74,403 year-one and $111,509 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.302, median debt $22,500). The four-year jump to $111k is exceptional for an accounting program and reflects placement into Big Four and regional firms in the New York metropolitan area. This is a standout outcome for a public university accounting program.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (276 graduates, the largest program) earns $56,286 year-one and $85,978 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.413, median debt $23,250). Year-one is solid for a public business program in the region. The four-year arc to $86k is strong. Volume of 276 graduates means this is a major component of TCNJ's employment pipeline. B grade ROI is appropriate - good but not exceptional at the institutional price point.
Psychology
Psychology (134 graduates) earns $28,920 year-one and $62,397 at year four (D grade, debt-to-earnings 0.861, median debt $24,905). Year-one earnings of $29k are very low and the D grade is accurate - debt service on nearly $25,000 at $29k earnings is immediately burdensome. The four-year trajectory to $62k shows long-run improvement but requires weathering a difficult early career period. Many psychology graduates pursue graduate school, which explains the gap.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How The College of New Jersey’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 | 62.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-31 |
| Enrollment | 7,105 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,766 |
TCNJ's admission rate is 62.3%. SAT Math 570-670 and Reading 570-670 (ACT 26-31) describe the mid-range.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
TCNJ's ROI score is 83, driven by New York labor market proximity, a high completion rate, and a strong aid model for low-income students.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| The College of New Jersey (this school) | 83 | $27,646 | $73,323 |
| Farmingdale State College | 83 | $10,867 | $69,781 |
| CUNY City College | 82 | $3,776 | $66,039 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| Rowan University | 66 | $22,408 | $59,988 |
| Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | 50 | $28,014 | $61,415 |
Who Thrives Here
TCNJ admits 62.3% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 570-670 Math and 570-670 Reading (ACT 26-31). It has 7,105 undergraduates. The education, nursing, and business programs are strong by public university standards. Students coming for liberal arts, fine arts, or social sciences should weigh the program-level ROI data; outcomes vary significantly by major.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, The College of New Jersey pays off. You'd pay about $27,646 a year after aid ($110,584 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,323 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.5 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 85.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $49,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, 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.
The College of New Jersey: Common Questions
Is The College of New Jersey worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students The College of New Jersey pays off. It scores 83/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $27,646 a year after aid ($110,584 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,323 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.5 years to earn back.
How much does The College of New Jersey 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 $27,646 a year, or roughly $110,584 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 The College of New Jersey graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $73,323 ten years after enrolling, roughly $31,523 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 The College of New Jersey?
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 6.5 years for The College of New Jersey. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do The College of New Jersey graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $49,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47. 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 The College of New Jersey?
The six-year graduation rate is 85.9%, 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.