Newark, New Jersey Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Newark, New Jersey shows: median public in-state tuition $18,612 (+237.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $74,479 (+37.1% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 84.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,483 (+59.9% vs U.S.) 23,092 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 7 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 23,092 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $18,612 (+237.7% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $74,479 (+37.1% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 84.8% (-3.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $9,075 (-8.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $21,483 (+59.9% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $13,000
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 63.7%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 83.8%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Newark, New Jersey—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against New Jersey and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Newark 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark, New Jersey | $18,612 | $9,075 | $21,483 | 63.7% | 23,092 |
| 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: Newark, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark, New Jersey | $74,479 | 84.8% | 83.8% | 4.9% | — | 77.9% | 0.29 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark, New Jersey | $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 |
| Lakewood | $12,000 | $11,794 | $21,816 | 49.6% | 7,593 | $53,096 | 56.9% |
| Lakewood | $12,000 | $11,794 | $21,816 | 49.6% | 7,593 | $53,096 | 56.9% |
| 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% |
| Trenton | $6,838 | N/A | $12,500 | N/A | 6,789 | $69,331 | 81.3% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Newark, 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, 72.8%, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 63.7%, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
Top 10 colleges in Newark, 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, 86.2%, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 84.8%, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
Top 10 most selective colleges in Newark, 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, 65.1%, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 71.4%, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
Top 10 colleges in Newark, 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, $80,448, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $78,794, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $32,637, Pillar College
Pillar College
Top 10 colleges in Newark, 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, $125,303, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $103,918, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $61,165, Pillar College
Pillar College
Top 10 colleges in Newark, 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, $69,591, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $61,263, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
Top 10 colleges in Newark, 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, $77,642, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $67,665, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
Top 10 colleges in Newark, 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, $84,276, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $74,479, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
Top 10 colleges in Newark, 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, $303,604, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $241,908, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $186,817, Pillar College
Pillar College
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Newark, 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, $8,470, Pillar College
Pillar College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $16,504, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 3, Net Price, $19,703, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
Top 10 colleges in Newark, 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, 89.5%, New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey Institute of Technology
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 83.8%, Rutgers University-Newark
Rutgers University-Newark
In-state tuition: Newark, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Newark, New Jersey median in-state tuition is $18,612, +237.7% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Newark, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Newark, New Jersey is $21,483 (+59.9% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Newark, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Newark, New Jersey center around $74,479 (+37.1% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Newark, 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 84.8% at the median Newark, New Jersey campus (-3.2 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
Newark, New Jersey median public in-state tuition is $18,612, about +237.7% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +152.1%.
Median graduate debt is $21,483 (+59.9% 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 Newark, New Jersey are $74,479, about +37.1% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 84.8% 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% (-3.2 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 83.8% 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 4.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 77.9% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include New Jersey Institute of Technology (86.2%), Rutgers University-Newark (84.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Newark, New Jersey is 63.7% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Newark?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 7 campuses in Newark, New Jersey with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Newark?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Newark is $18,612 and median net price is $9,075. 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 Newark?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Newark is $74,479 vs $59,988 for New Jersey and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Newark colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Newark is $21,483 vs $11,998 for New Jersey and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Newark?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include New Jersey Institute of Technology (graduation) and New Jersey Institute of Technology (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Newark?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 7 campuses in Newark, New Jersey, 4 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Essex County College, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Rutgers University-Newark; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Non-Denominational (1).
Sources & related
- New Jersey college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON