New Brunswick, NJ · Private University
Is Rutgers University Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$74,479
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$17,239
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$36,001
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$144,004
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
2.07x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3.6 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
85.0%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$21,500
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$23,519
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Rutgers University-New Brunswick graduates earn $29,479 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked by graduate earnings
242 graduates
679 graduates
151 graduates
45 graduates
117 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Rutgers University-New Brunswick, the gap between the highest-earning major (Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering: $119,602) and the lowest (Genetics: $20,373) is $99,229/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringBest ROI | $119,602 | 3.3x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $114,399 | 3.2x |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $99,075 | 2.8x |
| Industrial Engineering | $93,012 | 2.6x |
| Engineering Science | $92,858 | 2.6x |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $90,954 | 2.5x |
| Physics | $87,968 | 2.4x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $86,247 | 2.4x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $86,111 | 2.4x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $84,202 | 2.3x |
| Information Science/Studies | $81,920 | 2.3x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $80,803 | 2.2x |
| Chemical Engineering | $80,163 | 2.2x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $78,766 | 2.2x |
| Civil Engineering | $78,739 | 2.2x |
| Economics | $78,565 | 2.2x |
| Mathematics | $77,902 | 2.2x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $77,221 | 2.1x |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $75,864 | 2.1x |
| Chemistry | $73,289 | 2.0x |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $73,179 | 2.0x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $69,829 | 1.9x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering(1yr data) | $69,320 | 1.9x |
| Ceramic Sciences and Engineering(1yr data) | $69,162 | 1.9x |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $68,169 | 1.9x |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $67,413 | 1.9x |
| Marketing | $64,960 | 1.8x |
| Agricultural Engineering(1yr data) | $64,486 | 1.8x |
| Statistics(1yr data) | $63,477 | 1.8x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,479 | 1.7x |
| Public Health | $60,468 | 1.7x |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $60,292 | 1.7x |
| Social Sciences, Other | $59,341 | 1.6x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $59,290 | 1.6x |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $58,984 | 1.6x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $57,743 | 1.6x |
| Biology, General | $56,996 | 1.6x |
| Biotechnology(1yr data) | $56,509 | 1.6x |
| Nutrition Sciences | $55,966 | 1.6x |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | $54,353 | 1.5x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $54,339 | 1.5x |
| Political Science and Government | $53,569 | 1.5x |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $53,255 | 1.5x |
| Philosophy | $53,001 | 1.5x |
| Food Science and Technology(1yr data) | $51,892 | 1.4x |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,267 | 1.4x |
| Public Policy Analysis(1yr data) | $51,082 | 1.4x |
| Journalism | $50,441 | 1.4x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $50,236 | 1.4x |
| Psychology, General | $49,641 | 1.4x |
| Sociology | $49,178 | 1.4x |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other(1yr data) | $49,150 | 1.4x |
| History | $49,001 | 1.4x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $48,386 | 1.3x |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $47,887 | 1.3x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences(1yr data) | $47,045 | 1.3x |
| Social Work | $46,912 | 1.3x |
| Area Studies | $44,744 | 1.2x |
| Landscape Architecture(1yr data) | $44,459 | 1.2x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $43,389 | 1.2x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $40,401 | 1.1x |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology(1yr data) | $39,491 | 1.1x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts(1yr data) | $38,508 | 1.1x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $38,282 | 1.1x |
| Cognitive Science(1yr data) | $38,132 | 1.1x |
| Plant Sciences(1yr data) | $36,362 | 1.0x |
| Animal Sciences | $36,143 | 1.0x |
| Natural Resources Management and Policy(1yr data) | $36,040 | 1.0x |
| Anthropology | $35,895 | 1.0x |
| Music | $34,223 | 0.9x |
| Design and Applied Arts(1yr data) | $32,397 | 0.9x |
| Geography and Cartography(1yr data) | $26,701 | 0.7x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(1yr data) | $24,770 | 0.7x |
| GeneticsLowest(1yr data) | $20,373 | 0.6x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 2.07x | $74,479 | Strong ROI |
| University of Delaware | 1.84x | $72,950 | Good ROI |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 1.82x | $71,631 | Good ROI |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 2.23x | $81,698 | Strong ROI |
| University of Connecticut | 1.72x | $73,997 | Good ROI |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 1.58x | $63,435 | Good ROI |
The Bottom Line
Rutgers University-New Brunswick stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $74,479 10 years after starting — $29,479 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3.6 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.