Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in New Jersey
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in New Jersey16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in New Jersey.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in New Jersey
- Pays back in about 0.4 years
- Earnings $110,066 ten years out
- 2
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 6% for earnings
- Pays back in about 1.8 years
- Earnings $84,276 ten years out
- 3
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.7 years
- Earnings $108,772 ten years out
- 4
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.9 years
- Earnings $74,479 ten years out
- 5
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Pays back in about 3.0 years
- Earnings $74,479 ten years out
- 6
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 3.7 years
- Earnings $74,479 ten years out
- 7
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · PublicTop 17% for earnings
- Pays back in about 3.8 years
- Earnings $67,541 ten years out
- 8
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ · PublicTop 7% for graduation
- Pays back in about 4.4 years
- Earnings $73,323 ten years out
- 9
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Pays back in about 5.8 years
- Earnings $70,196 ten years out
- 10
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Pays back in about 6.3 years
- Earnings $67,991 ten years out
- 11
Drew University
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Pays back in about 6.4 years
- Earnings $63,646 ten years out
- 12
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Pays back in about 7.2 years
- Earnings $62,208 ten years out
- 13
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Pays back in about 7.7 years
- Earnings $59,988 ten years out
- 14
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 10.2 years
- Earnings $57,273 ten years out
- 15
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 15.3 years
- Earnings $53,726 ten years out
- 16
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Pays back in about 18.0 years
- Earnings $53,843 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton University | $6,128 | $10,320 | $110,066 | 98% |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | $16,504 | $21,000 | $84,276 | 73% |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | $41,346 | $27,000 | $108,772 | 87% |
| Rutgers University-Camden | $18,745 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 67% |
| Rutgers University-Newark | $19,703 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 64% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $24,406 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 84% |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | $18,173 | $21,000 | $67,541 | 70% |
| The College of New Jersey | $27,646 | $23,250 | $73,323 | 86% |
| Seton Hall University | $31,446 | $22,750 | $70,196 | 69% |
| Monmouth University | $30,988 | $27,000 | $67,991 | 72% |
| Drew University | $24,280 | $25,288 | $63,646 | 70% |
| Rider University | $24,792 | $26,130 | $62,208 | 61% |
| Rowan University | $22,408 | $20,500 | $59,988 | 67% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | $22,829 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 67% |
| Centenary University | $20,503 | $23,163 | $53,726 | 56% |
| Caldwell University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $53,843 | 57% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13