Rowan University
Rowan University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Rowan University at a Glance
Rowan University is a public research university in Glassboro, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1923 as Glassboro Normal School on a 25-acre (10 ha) site donated by 107 residents, the school was known as Glassboro State College from 1958 until 1992 and Rowan College of New Jersey from 1992 to 1997. It also operates a medical campus in Stratford, and medical and academic campuses in Camden.
1923
103 years old
$487M
$487.3 million (2025)
22,903
16,199 undergrad · 3,384 grad
2,294
800 acres
Identity
Is Rowan University Worth It?
Rowan University offers moderate value at $22,408/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $59,988, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 68% graduation rate means roughly 32% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Rowan University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #43 of 56 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #4 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #5 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #6 | University of Delaware | 82 | $17,799 | $72,950 |
| #43 | Rowan University | 45 | $22,408 | $59,988 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Rowan University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in NJ.
Best Programs at Rowan University
The highest-earning program at Rowan University is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $69,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians at $23,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from Rowan University earns $69,000, while a Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians graduate earns $23,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $22,408/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $69,000 | $69,000 | N/A |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,200 | $67,200 | $22,750 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $59,000 | $59,000 | $20,698 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $58,800 | $58,800 | $22,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $58,200 | $58,200 | $24,962 |
| Chemical Engineering | $54,500 | $54,500 | $26,278 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $50,000 | $50,000 | $23,750 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,900 | $46,900 | $21,500 |
| Mathematics | $44,600 | $44,600 | $21,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $42,400 | $42,400 | $20,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $42,200 | $42,200 | $22,250 |
| Physics | $40,700 | $40,700 | $19,464 |
| Geography and Cartography | $39,800 | $39,800 | $22,395 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $36,300 | $36,300 | $23,250 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $36,300 | $36,300 | $24,164 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $35,900 | $35,900 | $17,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $35,300 | $35,300 | $19,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $34,500 | $34,500 | $23,000 |
| Music | $33,000 | $33,000 | $26,390 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,100 | $32,100 | $15,000 |
| Psychology, General | $30,900 | $30,900 | $18,625 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $30,900 | $30,900 | $19,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $30,800 | $30,800 | $22,500 |
| Biology, General | $29,600 | $29,600 | $20,209 |
| Sociology | $28,600 | $28,600 | $23,598 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $26,800 | $26,800 | $21,375 |
| Political Science and Government | $26,400 | $26,400 | $19,500 |
| History | $26,200 | $26,200 | $19,688 |
| Journalism | $25,500 | $25,500 | $17,500 |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | $24,300 | $24,300 | $18,750 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $23,000 | $23,000 | $21,500 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Glassboro, NJ
- Student Body
- 15,841 students
- Admission Rate
- 78%
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,408
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $59,988
- Median Student Debt
- $20,500