Centenary University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Centenary University is a private research university in Hackettstown, New Jersey, enrolling about 910 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 83.08% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $53,726 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $37,732
- 2024 Average Net Price: $20,503 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 83.08% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 910 94.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 56.05%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
- First-Generation Students: 38.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 5.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 6.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Average ACT Score: 19
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,010
- Applicants (IPEDS): 1,294
- Room & Board: $12,552 annual estimate
Centenary University: what the data shows
Common questions about Centenary University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Centenary University?
Centenary University is located in Hackettstown, NJ (ZIP 07840).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Centenary University public or private?
Centenary University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Centenary University cost?
Published tuition: $37,732.
Average net price after aid: $20,503.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $13,329 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $16,047 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $21,277 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,306 |
| $110,001+ | $28,735 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $150,928.
How hard is it to get into Centenary University?
Admission rate: 83.08%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: midpoint ACT 19.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Centenary University?
Total enrollment: 910 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,010 students.
Graduate enrollment: 462 students.
About 94% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Centenary University?
150%-time completion rate: 56.05%.
First-year retention: 77.8%.
What do graduates of Centenary University earn?
Median earnings: $46,049 six years after entry; $53,726 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $23,163.
38.28% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Centenary University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Psychology, Other (87 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (55 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (25 completions)
- Experimental Psychology (21 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (20 completions)
- Equestrian/Equine Studies (17 completions)
- Social Work (14 completions)
- Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (14 completions)
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (11 completions)
- Reading Teacher Education (9 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Centenary University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 83.08%; completion rate 56.05%; median earnings $53,726 at 10 years; net price $20,503. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$37,732
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Centenary University was $37,732.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$20,503
2024 Value
In 2024 Centenary University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,503.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$82,012 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$20,503 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$150,928 4-Year Tuition
$12,552 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,000 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$51,284 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$205,136 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Centenary University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
38.28% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
63.30% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Centenary University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Centenary University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $30,540 | $30,540 | $25,419 |
| 2014 | $30,942 | $30,942 | $23,775 |
| 2015 | $31,754 | $31,754 | $19,498 |
| 2016 | $32,098 | $32,098 | $21,402 |
| 2017 | $32,580 | $32,580 | $20,810 |
| 2018 | $32,998 | $32,998 | $20,117 |
| 2019 | $33,492 | $33,492 | $20,474 |
| 2020 | $34,498 | $34,498 | $16,105 |
| 2021 | $34,498 | $34,498 | $23,763 |
| 2022 | $35,934 | $35,934 | $20,285 |
| 2023 | $37,732 | $37,732 | $19,037 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
83.08% Acceptance Rate
1,294 Total Applicants
1,251 Students Admitted
181 First-Time Students Enrolled
14.47% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
ACT Average: 19
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Centenary University reported total enrollment of about 910 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (61.1%), Hispanic or Latino (19.7%), and Black or African American (9.1%). About 38.28% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 38.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Centenary University in 2024 is 910 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,010 students. Graduate enrollment is about 462 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
77.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 61.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
44.84% 100% Completion Time
56.05% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 44.84% of students graduating from Centenary University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, Other: 21% male / 79% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 65% male / 35% female
- Elementary Education and Teaching: 4% male / 96% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Centenary University.
Return on Investment
$23,163 Median Student Debt
$53,726 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
43.11% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
555.10% Return on Investment
4.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Centenary University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 36 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Psychology, Other: 87 completions
2. Business Administration and Management, General: 55 completions
3. Elementary Education and Teaching: 25 completions
4. Experimental Psychology: 21 completions
5. Criminal Justice/Safety Studies: 20 completions
6. Equestrian/Equine Studies: 17 completions
7. Social Work: 14 completions
8. Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other: 14 completions
9. Mental Health Counseling/Counselor: 11 completions
Most popular programs at Centenary University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Centenary University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Centenary University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $7,533
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,236
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Centenary University is a private non-profit institution located in Hackettstown, NJ, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Psychology, Other, Business Administration and Management, General, Elementary Education and Teaching. Enrollment is approximately 910 students. Student body composition includes White (61.1%), Hispanic or Latino (19.7%), Black or African American (9.1%). The admission rate is 83.08%. Average ACT scores for admitted students are 19. The 150%-time completion rate is 56.05%. Approximately 38.28% of students receive Pell Grants. About 38.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Location
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Centenary University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Centenary University located?
Centenary University is located in Hackettstown, NJ.
What is Centenary University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Centenary University is 83.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,294 applicants and 1,251 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Centenary University cost?
Reported tuition is $37,732 and average net price is $20,503 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,552 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Centenary University?
Centenary University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,010 students, White (61.1%), Hispanic or Latino (19.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Centenary University?
About 38.2% of students at Centenary University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Centenary University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Centenary University reports midpoint ACT about 19.
What do graduates of Centenary University earn?
Median earnings are $46,049 six years after entry and $53,726 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Centenary University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 56.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Centenary University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $23,163.
Is Centenary University public or private?
Centenary University is a private nonprofit institution located in Hackettstown, NJ.
Is Centenary University an HBCU?
No. Centenary University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Centenary University a tribal college?
No. Centenary University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- New Jersey college costs
- New Jersey colleges by ROI
- Mid East regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in New Jersey
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.