College cost is the second largest expenditure a family can make, so its not surprising families are looking more toward the bigger picture.
And what’s that you might ask? It’s cost versus payoff. If a college is more expensive it doesn’t specifically mean the return on investment will be better anymore.
When choosing the right school, families need to consider cost, financial aid, student debt and earnings after graduation. Luckily, Money did the hard work for you and compiled the “Best Colleges For Your Money” list, which ranks the top 727 schools across the U.S., including 21 from New Jersey.
Below is how New Jersey’s schools fared in the national rankings, their estimated cost for the upcoming school year, the average student debt a student accumulates and the average early career earnings of graduates.
21. Caldwell University
National rank: 648
Est. price 2018-19: $51,400
Average student debt: $25,800
Early career earnings: $44,300
20. Centenary University
National rank: 581
Est. price 2018-19: $49,500
Average student debt: $25,500
Early career earnings: $42,600
19. Felician University
National rank: 494
Est. price 2018-19: $51,800
Average student debt: $25,000
Early career earnings: $51,500
18. William Paterson University
National rank: 491
Est. price 2018-19: $29,400
Average student debt: $24,500
Early career earnings: $47,800
17. Georgian Court University
National rank: 489
Est. price 2018-19: $52,200
Average student debt: $25,000
Early career earnings: $42,700
16. Rider University
National rank: 459
Est. price 2018-19: $61,100
Average student debt: $25,800
Early career earnings: $48,700
15. Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
National rank: 448
Est. price 2018-19: $58,000
Average student debt: $26,000
Early career earnings: $47,400
14. Saint Peter’s University
National rank: 398
Est. price 2018-19: $55,300
Average student debt: $25,000
Early career earnings: $50,700
13. Monmouth University
National rank: 358
Est. price 2018-19: $56,200
Average student debt: $26,700
Early career earnings: $48,400
12. Kean University
National rank: 320
Est. price 2018-19: $30,000
Average student debt: $25,000
Early career earnings: $45,700
11. Seton Hall University
National rank: 292
Est. price 2018-19: $58,500
Average student debt: $25,000
Early career earnings: $53,900
10. Stockton University
National rank: 218
Est. price 2018-19: $31,000
Average student debt: $21,100
Early career earnings: $44,500
9. New Jersey Institute of Technology
National rank: 199
Est. price 2018-19: $37,400
Average student debt: $23,000
Early career earnings: $60,800
8. College of St. Elizabeth
National rank: 193
Est. price 2018-19: $53,300
Average student debt: $25,000
Early career earnings: $46,900
7. Rowan University
National rank: 182
Est. price 2018-19: $31,800
Average student debt: $20,000
Early career earnings: $48,400
6. Montclair State University
National rank: 164
Est. price 2018-19: $31,100
Average student debt: $23,000
Early career earnings: $47,400
5. Stevens Institute of Technology
National rank: 153
Est. price 2018-19: $68,800
Average student debt: $28,300
Early career earnings: $70,800
4. Ramapo College of New Jersey
National rank: 113
Est. price 2018-19: $31,600
Average student debt: $22,800
Early career earnings: $48,100
3. Rutgers University – New Brunswick
National rank: 65
Est. price 2018-19: $32,300
Average student debt: $22,200
Early career earnings: $55,800
2. The College of New Jersey
National ranking: 35
Est. price 2018-19: $35,300
Average student debt: $23,300
Early career earnings: $54,400
1. Princeton University
National ranking: 1
Est. price 2018-19: $67,700
Average student debt: $7,500
Early career earnings: $69,800
