Head-to-head comparison
Rutgers University-Newark vs Rutgers University-Camden: which has better ROI?
Option A Newark, NJ
Rutgers University-Newark
- Net price / year
- $19,703
- Earnings, 10 years
- $74,479
- Payback
- 3 yrs
Option B Camden, NJ
Rutgers University-Camden
- Net price / year
- $18,745
- Earnings, 10 years
- $74,479
- Payback
- 2.9 yrs
Rutgers University-Camden has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $74,980 in 2.9 years versus 3 years at Rutgers University-Newark, on median earnings of $74,479 vs $74,479 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rutgers University-Newark | Rutgers University-Camden |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,703 | $18,745 |
| Total net cost | $78,812 | $74,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $74,479 | $74,479 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 2.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $443,568 | $447,400 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rutgers University-Newark or Rutgers University-Camden?
Rutgers University-Camden, at $18,745 a year after aid versus $19,703 — a gap of $958 a year, or $3,832 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 Rutgers University-Newark or Rutgers University-Camden graduates earn more?
Graduates of both report a median $74,479 ten years after entry, so earnings do not separate them either — the ROI difference comes entirely from what each degree costs. Figures are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, not programme-level pay.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Rutgers University-Newark or Rutgers University-Camden?
Completers at both borrow a median $21,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
67% of students finish at Rutgers University-Camden, against 64% at Rutgers University-Newark. 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.