Head-to-head comparison
Rowan University vs Drew University: which has better ROI?
Option A Glassboro, NJ
Rowan University
- Net price / year
- $22,408
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,988
- Payback
- 7.7 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 7.7 years at Rowan University, on median earnings of $63,646 vs $59,988 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rowan University | Drew University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,408 | $24,280 |
| Total net cost | $89,632 | $97,120 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,988 | $63,646 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $25,288 |
| Payback | 7.7 yrs | 6.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $142,928 | $208,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rowan University or Drew University?
Rowan University, at $22,408 a year after aid versus $24,280 — a gap of $1,872 a year, or $7,488 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 Rowan University or Drew University graduates earn more?
Drew University graduates report a median $63,646 ten years after entry, $3,658 more than the $59,988 at Rowan 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, Rowan University or Drew University?
Rowan University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $25,288 at Drew University, a difference of $4,788. 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 67% at Rowan 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.