Head-to-head comparison
Princeton University vs Rutgers University-Camden: 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 Camden, NJ
Rutgers University-Camden
- Net price / year
- $18,745
- Earnings, 10 years
- $74,479
- Payback
- 2.9 yrs
Princeton University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $24,512 in 0.4 years versus 2.9 years at Rutgers University-Camden, on median earnings of $110,066 vs $74,479 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Princeton University | Rutgers University-Camden |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,128 | $18,745 |
| Total net cost | $24,512 | $74,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $110,066 | $74,479 |
| Median debt | $10,320 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 0.4 yrs | 2.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $1,209,608 | $447,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Princeton University or Rutgers University-Camden?
Princeton University, at $6,128 a year after aid versus $18,745 — a gap of $12,617 a year, or $50,468 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 Rutgers University-Camden graduates earn more?
Princeton University graduates report a median $110,066 ten years after entry, $35,587 more than the $74,479 at Rutgers University-Camden. 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 Rutgers University-Camden?
Princeton University: its completers carry a median $10,320 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Rutgers University-Camden, a difference of $11,180. 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 67% at Rutgers University-Camden. 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.