Head-to-head comparison
Ramapo College of New Jersey vs Stevens Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?
Option A Mahwah, NJ
Ramapo College of New Jersey
- Net price / year
- $18,173
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,541
- Payback
- 3.8 yrs
Option B Hoboken, NJ
Stevens Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $41,346
- Earnings, 10 years
- $108,772
- Payback
- 2.7 yrs
Stevens Institute of Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $165,384 in 2.7 years versus 3.8 years at Ramapo College of New Jersey, on median earnings of $108,772 vs $67,541 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ramapo College of New Jersey | Stevens Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,173 | $41,346 |
| Total net cost | $72,692 | $165,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,541 | $108,772 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 3.8 yrs | 2.7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $310,928 | $1,042,856 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ramapo College of New Jersey or Stevens Institute of Technology?
Ramapo College of New Jersey, at $18,173 a year after aid versus $41,346 — a gap of $23,173 a year, or $92,692 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 Ramapo College of New Jersey or Stevens Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Stevens Institute of Technology graduates report a median $108,772 ten years after entry, $41,231 more than the $67,541 at Ramapo College of 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, Ramapo College of New Jersey or Stevens Institute of Technology?
Ramapo College of New Jersey: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Stevens Institute of Technology, a difference of $6,000. 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?
87% of students finish at Stevens Institute of Technology, against 70% at Ramapo College of 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.