Lakewood, New Jersey Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Lakewood, New Jersey shows: median public in-state tuition $12,000 (+117.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $53,096 (-2.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 56.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,816 (+62.4% vs U.S.) 7,593 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 18 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 7,593 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $12,000 (+117.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $53,096 (-2.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 56.9% (-31.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $11,794 (+18.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $21,816 (+62.4% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $13,000
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 49.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 84.0%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Lakewood, New Jersey—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against New Jersey and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Lakewood vs New Jersey & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, New Jersey | $12,000 | $11,794 | $21,816 | 49.6% | 7,593 |
| New Jersey (state median) | $6,300 | $11,024 | $11,998 | 51.4% | 316,789 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Lakewood, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, New Jersey | $53,096 | 56.9% | 84.0% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 58.3% | 0.41 |
| New Jersey (state median) | $59,988 | 84.0% | 78.3% | 4.6% | — | 71.8% | 0.36 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in New Jersey (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, New Jersey | $12,000 | $11,794 | $21,816 | 49.6% | 7,593 | $53,096 | 56.9% |
| Newark | $18,612 | $9,075 | $21,483 | 63.7% | 23,092 | $74,479 | 84.8% |
| Newark | $18,612 | $9,075 | $21,483 | 63.7% | 23,092 | $74,479 | 84.8% |
| Newark | $18,612 | $9,075 | $21,483 | 63.7% | 23,092 | $74,479 | 84.8% |
| Jersey City | $16,422 | $18,582 | $15,733 | 34.1% | 13,960 | $52,745 | 76.0% |
| Union | $12,824 | $12,447 | $12,365 | 56.6% | 13,416 | $57,237 | 84.7% |
| Edison | $8,732 | $8,389 | $7,625 | 0.0% | 8,651 | N/A | N/A |
| Wayne | $15,704 | $21,377 | $9,500 | 44.0% | 7,469 | $57,780 | 85.2% |
| Ewing | $19,632 | $25,658 | $21,000 | 85.9% | 7,279 | $73,323 | 90.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Lakewood, New Jersey
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 3 | $53,096 | 56.9% | 84.0% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 58.3% |
Top 10 colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 53.6%, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
Top 10 colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 86.8%, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 42.9%, Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha
Top 10 most selective colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 78.8%, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
Top 10 colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $85,963, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $36,798, Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha
Top 10 colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $96,213, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $59,036, Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha
Top 10 colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,627, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,300, Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha
Top 10 colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $50,285, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $43,236, Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha
Top 10 colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $53,096, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $47,544, Beth Medrash Govoha
Beth Medrash Govoha
Top 10 colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $236,722, Yeshiva Toras Chaim
Yeshiva Toras Chaim
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $146,064, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $19,285, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
Top 10 colleges in Lakewood, New Jersey by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 76.1%, Georgian Court University
Georgian Court University
In-state tuition: Lakewood, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Lakewood, New Jersey median in-state tuition is $12,000, +117.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Lakewood, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Lakewood, New Jersey is $21,816 (+62.4% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Lakewood, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Lakewood, New Jersey center around $53,096 (-2.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Lakewood, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 56.9% at the median Lakewood, New Jersey campus (-31.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Lakewood, New Jersey median public in-state tuition is $12,000, about +117.7% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +62.6%.
Median graduate debt is $21,816 (+62.4% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Lakewood, New Jersey are $53,096, about -2.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 56.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-31.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 84.0% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 1.8% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr default 1.2% (U.S. median N/A); 3-yr repayment progress 58.3% (U.S. 73.7%).
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Georgian Court University (86.8%), Beth Medrash Govoha (42.9%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Lakewood, New Jersey, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $53,096 (3 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Lakewood, New Jersey is 49.6% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Lakewood?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 18 campuses in Lakewood, New Jersey with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Lakewood?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Lakewood is $12,000 and median net price is $11,794. For New Jersey overall, medians are $6,300 and $11,024; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Lakewood?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Lakewood is $53,096 vs $59,988 for New Jersey and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Lakewood colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Lakewood is $21,816 vs $11,998 for New Jersey and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Lakewood?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Georgian Court University (graduation) and Georgian Court University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Lakewood?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 18 campuses in Lakewood, New Jersey, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1).
Sources & related
- New Jersey college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON