Head-to-head comparison
Caldwell University vs Saint Elizabeth 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 Morristown, NJ
Saint Elizabeth University
- Net price / year
- $23,125
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,038
- Payback
- 19.8 yrs
Caldwell University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,764 in 18 years versus 19.8 years at Saint Elizabeth University, on median earnings of $53,843 vs $53,038 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Caldwell University | Saint Elizabeth University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,691 | $23,125 |
| Total net cost | $98,764 | $92,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,843 | $53,038 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $24,934 |
| Payback | 18 yrs | 19.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $10,896 | $1,060 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Caldwell University or Saint Elizabeth University?
Saint Elizabeth University, at $23,125 a year after aid versus $24,691 — a gap of $1,566 a year, or $6,264 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 Saint Elizabeth University graduates earn more?
Caldwell University graduates report a median $53,843 ten years after entry, $805 more than the $53,038 at Saint Elizabeth 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 Saint Elizabeth University?
Saint Elizabeth University: its completers carry a median $24,934 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Caldwell University, a difference of $66. 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 51% at Saint Elizabeth 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.