Head-to-head comparison
Montclair State University vs Kean University: which has better ROI?
Option A Montclair, NJ
Montclair State University
- Net price / year
- $15,566
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,415
- Payback
- 4.8 yrs
Option B Union, NJ
Kean University
- Net price / year
- $12,447
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,237
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Montclair State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,264 in 4.8 years versus 5.6 years at Kean University, on median earnings of $61,415 vs $57,237 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Montclair State University | Kean University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,566 | $12,447 |
| Total net cost | $62,264 | $49,788 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,415 | $57,237 |
| Median debt | $22,000 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 4.8 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $198,836 | $127,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Montclair State University or Kean University?
Kean University, at $12,447 a year after aid versus $15,566 — a gap of $3,119 a year, or $12,476 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 Montclair State University or Kean University graduates earn more?
Montclair State University graduates report a median $61,415 ten years after entry, $4,178 more than the $57,237 at Kean 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, Montclair State University or Kean University?
Montclair State University: its completers carry a median $22,000 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Kean University, a difference of $1,250. 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?
65% of students finish at Montclair State University, against 47% at Kean 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.