Head-to-head comparison
Caldwell University vs Centenary University: which has better ROI?
Option A Caldwell, NJ
Caldwell University
- Net price / year
- $24,691
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,843
- Payback
- 18 yrs
Option B Hackettstown, NJ
Centenary University
- Net price / year
- $20,503
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,726
- Payback
- 15.3 yrs
Centenary University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,012 in 15.3 years versus 18 years at Caldwell University, on median earnings of $53,726 vs $53,843 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Caldwell University | Centenary University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,691 | $20,503 |
| Total net cost | $98,764 | $82,012 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,843 | $53,726 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $23,163 |
| Payback | 18 yrs | 15.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $10,896 | $25,308 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Caldwell University or Centenary University?
Centenary University, at $20,503 a year after aid versus $24,691 — a gap of $4,188 a year, or $16,752 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Caldwell University or Centenary University graduates earn more?
Caldwell University graduates report a median $53,843 ten years after entry, $117 more than the $53,726 at Centenary University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Caldwell University or Centenary University?
Centenary University: its completers carry a median $23,163 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Caldwell University, a difference of $1,837. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at Caldwell University, against 56% at Centenary University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.