Head-to-head comparison
Monmouth University vs Drew University: which has better ROI?
Option A West Long Branch, NJ
Monmouth University
- Net price / year
- $30,988
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,991
- Payback
- 6.3 yrs
Option B Madison, NJ
Drew University
- Net price / year
- $24,280
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,646
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
Monmouth University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $123,952 in 6.3 years versus 6.4 years at Drew University, on median earnings of $67,991 vs $63,646 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Monmouth University | Drew University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,988 | $24,280 |
| Total net cost | $123,952 | $97,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,991 | $63,646 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,288 |
| Payback | 6.3 yrs | 6.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $268,668 | $208,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Monmouth University or Drew University?
Drew University, at $24,280 a year after aid versus $30,988 — a gap of $6,708 a year, or $26,832 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 Monmouth University or Drew University graduates earn more?
Monmouth University graduates report a median $67,991 ten years after entry, $4,345 more than the $63,646 at Drew 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, Monmouth University or Drew University?
Drew University: its completers carry a median $25,288 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Monmouth University, a difference of $1,712. 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?
72% of students finish at Monmouth University, against 70% at Drew 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.