Head-to-head comparison
Princeton University vs Chamberlain University-New Jersey: which has better ROI?
Option A Princeton, NJ
Princeton University
- Net price / year
- $6,128
- Earnings, 10 years
- $110,066
- Payback
- 0.4 yrs
Option B North Brunswick, NJ
Chamberlain University-New Jersey
- Net price / year
- $37,984
- Earnings, 10 years
- $92,405
- Payback
- 3.4 yrs
Princeton University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $24,512 in 0.4 years versus 3.4 years at Chamberlain University-New Jersey, on median earnings of $110,066 vs $92,405 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Princeton University | Chamberlain University-New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,128 | $37,984 |
| Total net cost | $24,512 | $151,936 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $110,066 | $92,405 |
| Median debt | $10,320 | $20,919 |
| Payback | 0.4 yrs | 3.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $1,209,608 | $728,964 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Princeton University or Chamberlain University-New Jersey?
Princeton University, at $6,128 a year after aid versus $37,984 — a gap of $31,856 a year, or $127,424 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 Princeton University or Chamberlain University-New Jersey graduates earn more?
Princeton University graduates report a median $110,066 ten years after entry, $17,661 more than the $92,405 at Chamberlain University-New Jersey. 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, Princeton University or Chamberlain University-New Jersey?
Princeton University: its completers carry a median $10,320 in federal loans versus $20,919 at Chamberlain University-New Jersey, a difference of $10,599. 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?
98% of students finish at Princeton University, against 33% at Chamberlain University-New Jersey. 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.