New rankings put New Jersey schools high on the list for best return on investment

It pays to go to college in New Jersey — literally. Payscale, the creators of the largest salary database in the world, have analyzed how much undergrads pay to attend more than 1,300 different institutions, and what they can expect to make in the 20 years after graduation. All that data revealed eight Garden State institutions fall in the…The list looks at 20-year return on investment, compared to total cost, which includes room and board, books and supplies, in addition to tuition.
When financial aid is factored into the equation, Stevens Institute in Hoboken lands near the very top of the list, beating out Princeton to earn a spot at No. 5. Without financial aid, Stevens’ sticker price versus the 20-year earning potential of its graduates still puts it in the top 10, coming in at No. 9. The 2013 cost at Stevens is $250,900. The 20-year ROI is $722,400.
Here’s a look at the other New Jersey institutions that made it to the annual list (without factoring in financial aid):
No. 13: Princeton University
2013 cost: $217,300
20-year ROI: $690,800
No. 42: New Jersey Institute of Technology (in-state tuition)
2013 cost: $137,700
20-year ROI: $588,500
No. 62: New Jersey Institute of Technology (out-of-state tuition)
2013 cost: $189,400
20-year ROI: $536,800
No. 125: Rutgers University – New Brunswick (in-state tuition)
2013 cost: $119,300
20-year ROI: $446,400
No. 157: Rutgers University – Newark (in-state tuition)
2013 cost: $125,700
20-year ROI: $414,800
No. 159: The College of New Jersey (in-state tuition)
2013 cost: $115,700
20-year ROI: $412,700
No. 183: Rutgers University – New Brunswick (out-of-state tuition)
2013 cost: $171,100
20-year ROI: $394,700
No. 191: Seton Hall University
2013 cost: $201,800
20-year ROI: $384,000
No. 200: Ramapo College of New Jersey (in-state tuition)
2013 cost: $116,100
20-year ROI: $375,500
No. 203: The College of New Jersey (out-of-state tuition)
2013 cost: $155,300
20-year ROI: $373,100
No. 215: Bloomfield College
2013 cost: $172,900
20-year ROI: $366,800
No. 225: Rutgers University – Newark (out-of-state tuition)
2013 cost: $179,300
20-year ROI: $361,300
For the full Payscale report, click here.
ALSO ON NJBIZ:
California company Terra Tech setting up infrastructure in anticipation of N.J. marijuana legalization
N.J. gives Tesla two more weeks to comply with dealer regulations
Most-read March 31: When shouldn’t you file a property tax appeal?