Head-to-head comparison
UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey vs American Institute-Toms River: which has better ROI?
Option A Cranford, NJ
UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey
- Net price / year
- $8,257
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,595
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Toms River, NJ
American Institute-Toms River
- Net price / year
- $19,781
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,710
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey comes closer — median earnings $41,595 against a $16,514 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-Toms River. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey | American Institute-Toms River |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,257 | $19,781 |
| Total net cost | $16,514 | $79,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,595 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $15,091 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,814 | -$472,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey or American Institute-Toms River?
UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey, at $8,257 a year after aid versus $19,781 — a gap of $11,524 a year, or $62,610 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 UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey or American Institute-Toms River graduates earn more?
UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey graduates report a median $41,595 ten years after entry, $12,885 more than the $28,710 at American Institute-Toms River. 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, UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey or American Institute-Toms River?
American Institute-Toms River: its completers carry a median $11,979 in federal loans versus $15,091 at UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey, a difference of $3,112. 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?
55% of students finish at American Institute-Toms River, against 35% at UCNJ Union College of Union County 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.