The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
The College of New Jersey at a Glance
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is a public university in Ewing Township, New Jersey, United States. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education. Established in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, TCNJ was the first normal school, or teaching college, in the state of New Jersey and the fifth in the United States. It was originally located in Trenton proper and moved to its present location in adjacent Ewing Township during the early to mid-1930s. Since its inception, TC…
1855
171 years old
$72M
$71.8 million (2025)
7,340
6,653 undergrad · 687 grad
821
13:1 student:faculty
289 acres
Identity
How to Apply to The College of New Jersey
Official admissions pageNovember 1 (Early Decision)
$65
Fee waiver available
3 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Fee waiver
Is The College of New Jersey Worth It?
The College of New Jersey offers moderate value at $27,646/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $73,323, 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.
With a 86% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
How The College of New Jersey compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NJ
Ranked #9 of 17 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 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #3 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 67 | $19,095 | $62,696 |
| #4 | Ramapo College of New Jersey | 66 | $18,173 | $67,541 |
| #5 | Rutgers University-Camden | 66 | $18,745 | $74,479 |
| #6 | SUNY College at Geneseo | 66 | $18,211 | $67,316 |
| #9 | The College of New Jersey | 57 | $27,646 | $73,323 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of The College of New Jersey's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in NJ.
Best Programs at The College of New Jersey
The highest-earning program at The College of New Jersey is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $70,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Biology, General at $24,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from The College of New Jersey earns $70,700, while a Biology, General graduate earns $24,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $23,210 in median debt vs. $20,500 for Biology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $27,646/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 | $70,700 | $70,700 | $23,210 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $70,300 | $70,300 | $23,250 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $61,900 | $61,900 | $24,500 |
| Engineering Science | $57,300 | $57,300 | N/A |
| Mechanical Engineering | $56,100 | $56,100 | N/A |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $51,700 | $51,700 | $20,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $50,900 | $50,900 | $24,911 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $49,000 | $49,000 | $24,411 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $41,500 | $41,500 | N/A |
| Communication and Media Studies | $38,600 | $38,600 | $23,250 |
| Mathematics | $36,600 | $36,600 | $25,500 |
| Psychology, General | $36,400 | $36,400 | $21,260 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $35,700 | $35,700 | $20,360 |
| Sociology | $34,300 | $34,300 | $19,382 |
| History | $33,700 | $33,700 | $26,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $33,500 | $33,500 | $25,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $32,800 | $32,800 | $23,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $32,400 | $32,400 | $24,750 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $29,500 | $29,500 | $21,514 |
| Biology, General | $24,500 | $24,500 | $20,500 |
Similar Colleges in NJ
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Ewing, NJ
- Student Body
- 7,105 students
- Admission Rate
- 62%
- Graduation Rate
- 86%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $27,646
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $73,323
- Median Student Debt
- $23,250