Head-to-head comparison
Rider University vs Drew University: which has better ROI?
Option A Lawrenceville, NJ
Rider University
- Net price / year
- $24,792
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,208
- Payback
- 7.2 yrs
Option B Madison, NJ
Drew University
- Net price / year
- $24,280
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,646
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
Drew University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,120 in 6.4 years versus 7.2 years at Rider University, on median earnings of $63,646 vs $62,208 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rider University | Drew University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,792 | $24,280 |
| Total net cost | $99,168 | $97,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,208 | $63,646 |
| Median debt | $26,130 | $25,288 |
| Payback | 7.2 yrs | 6.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $177,792 | $208,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rider University or Drew University?
Drew University, at $24,280 a year after aid versus $24,792 — a gap of $512 a year, or $2,048 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 Rider University or Drew University graduates earn more?
Drew University graduates report a median $63,646 ten years after entry, $1,438 more than the $62,208 at Rider 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, Rider University or Drew University?
Drew University: its completers carry a median $25,288 in federal loans versus $26,130 at Rider University, a difference of $842. 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?
70% of students finish at Drew University, against 61% at Rider 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.