Wayne, New Jersey Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Wayne, New Jersey: median public in-state tuition $15,704 (+184.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $57,780 (+6.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 85.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S.) 7,469 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 7,469 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $15,704 (+184.9% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $57,780 (+6.2% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 85.2% (-2.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $21,377 (+114.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $13,000
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 44.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 73.9%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Wayne serve students across New Jersey with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 7,469 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $15,704. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Wayne, New Jersey and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Wayne 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne, New Jersey | $15,704 | $21,377 | $9,500 | 44.0% | 7,469 |
| New Jersey (state median) | $6,300 | $11,024 | $11,998 | 51.0% | 316,789 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Wayne, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne, New Jersey | $57,780 | 85.2% | 73.9% | 7.5% | — | 68.5% | 0.39 |
| New Jersey (state median) | $59,988 | 84.0% | 78.3% | 4.6% | — | 71.8% | 0.36 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne, New Jersey | $15,704 | $21,377 | $9,500 | 44.0% | 7,469 | $57,780 | 85.2% |
| New Brunswick | $17,929 | $24,406 | $21,500 | 83.6% | 37,751 | $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% |
| 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% |
| Paramus | $4,913 | $25,733 | $11,260 | N/A | 11,052 | N/A | N/A |
| Edison | $8,732 | $8,389 | $7,625 | 0.0% | 8,651 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Wayne, 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, 44.0%, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Top college in Wayne, 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, 85.2%, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Most selective college in Wayne, 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, 90.1%, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Top college in Wayne, 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, $92,257, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Top college in Wayne, 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, $101,328, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Top college in Wayne, 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, $44,928, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Top college in Wayne, 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, $52,612, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Top college in Wayne, 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, $57,780, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Top college in Wayne, 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, $165,561, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Most affordable college in Wayne, 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, $18,745, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Top college in Wayne, 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, 73.9%, William Paterson University of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
In-state tuition: Wayne, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Wayne, New Jersey median in-state tuition is $15,704, +184.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Wayne, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Wayne, New Jersey is $9,500 (-28.4% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Wayne, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Wayne, New Jersey center around $57,780 (+6.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Wayne, 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 85.2% at the median Wayne, New Jersey campus (-2.8 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
Wayne, New Jersey median public in-state tuition is $15,704, about +184.9% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +112.7%.
Median graduate debt is $9,500 (-28.4% below the U.S. median of $13,271). 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 Wayne, New Jersey are $57,780, about +6.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 85.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-2.8 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 73.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 7.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 68.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include William Paterson University of New Jersey (85.2%)—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 Wayne, New Jersey is 44.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Wayne?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Wayne, New Jersey with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Wayne?
Median in-state tuition in Wayne is $15,704 and median net price is $21,377. For New Jersey overall, medians are $6,300 and $11,024; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Wayne?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Wayne is $57,780 vs $59,988 for New Jersey and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Wayne colleges?
Median completer debt in Wayne is $9,500 vs $11,998 for New Jersey and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Wayne?
Top campuses on this page include William Paterson University of New Jersey (graduation) and William Paterson University of New Jersey (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Wayne?
Among 3 campuses in Wayne, New Jersey, 3 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Fortis Institute-Wayne, William Paterson University of New Jersey, and Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics & Cosmetology.
Sources & related
- New Jersey college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON