
Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2020
Questions & Answers
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What do all these numbers mean?
All costs are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket. Net cost is the total cost of attendance minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Loans of any kind are not included. Figures are based on data from the 2017-18 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2020.
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What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
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How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $24,669 and the average private school would be $26,896. You can also get information on specific New Jersey schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
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Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
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What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
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The costs on this chart seemed large, how can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- college savings and investments
- payments from current income
- loans
- outside scholarships (check out our Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents, which describes how you and your student can win scholarships for college and save money!)
- tax planning
- student work

Net Price:
Net price is the total cost of attendance minus the average amount of government grants and institutional scholarships awarded. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
Total Cost at Rutgers University-New Brunswick (2017-18) | |
---|---|
Tuition and Fees | $14,638 |
Room and Board | $12,452 |
Books | $1,350 |
Other Expenses | $3,137 |
Total | $31,577 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2017-18 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2020. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
College Total Cost | ||
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Family Income | NJ Public $31,564 | NJ Private $55,852 |
$0 - $30k | $12,916 | $15,781 |
$30,001 – $48k | $14,541 | $17,115 |
$48,001 – $75k | $19,977 | $21,667 |
$75,001 – $110k | $24,669 | $26,896 |
$110,001+ | $26,016 | $31,218 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the New Jersey public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $2,000-$6,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in New Jersey. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public NJ Schools Cost Breakdown
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Rowan University
Glassboro Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $13,422 $13,697 Room and Board $13,717 $12,552 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $3,800 $4,250 Total $32,539 $32,099 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,192 $16,960 $30,001 - $48k $19,218 $18,958 $48,001 - $75k $25,705 $25,357 $75,001 - $110k $30,717 $30,302 $110,001+ $31,180 $30,758 -
New Jersey City University
Jersey City Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $11,761 $12,052 Room and Board $12,805 $14,116 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $4,700 $4,708 Total $30,466 $32,076 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,365 $11,966 $30,001 - $48k $12,181 $12,825 $48,001 - $75k $15,083 $15,880 $75,001 - $110k $20,347 $21,422 $110,001+ $20,676 $21,769 -
Kean University
Union Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $12,107 $12,348 Room and Board $13,513 $14,470 Books $1,384 $1,384 Other Expenses $2,257 $2,273 Total $29,261 $30,475 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,720 $15,331 $30,001 - $48k $16,015 $16,679 $48,001 - $75k $20,610 $21,465 $75,001 - $110k $24,210 $25,214 $110,001+ $24,581 $25,601 -
Montclair State University
Montclair Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $12,454 $12,790 Room and Board $14,458 $15,564 Books $1,300 $1,250 Other Expenses $3,270 $2,100 Total $31,482 $31,704 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,661 $14,764 $30,001 - $48k $16,273 $16,388 $48,001 - $75k $21,824 $21,978 $75,001 - $110k $26,099 $26,283 $110,001+ $26,975 $27,165 -
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $16,898 $17,338 Room and Board $13,300 $13,600 Books $2,600 $2,900 Other Expenses $3,700 $3,900 Total $36,498 $37,738 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,294 $12,712 $30,001 - $48k $14,610 $15,106 $48,001 - $75k $19,973 $20,652 $75,001 - $110k $24,409 $25,238 $110,001+ $25,919 $26,800
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Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $14,080 $14,374 Room and Board $12,180 $12,450 Books $1,569 $1,593 Other Expenses $3,010 $3,155 Total $30,839 $31,572 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,838 $11,096 $30,001 - $48k $14,780 $15,131 $48,001 - $75k $20,908 $21,405 $75,001 - $110k $26,436 $27,064 $110,001+ $26,061 $26,680 -
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $14,501 $14,835 Room and Board $12,094 $12,336 Books $1,350 $1,350 Other Expenses $3,137 $3,413 Total $31,082 $31,934 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,477 $9,737 $30,001 - $48k $8,895 $9,139 $48,001 - $75k $11,935 $12,262 $75,001 - $110k $16,979 $17,444 $110,001+ $23,996 $24,654 -
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $14,638 $14,974 Room and Board $12,452 $12,706 Books $1,350 $1,350 Other Expenses $3,137 $3,413 Total $31,577 $32,443 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,108 $12,440 $30,001 - $48k $13,671 $14,046 $48,001 - $75k $19,727 $20,268 $75,001 - $110k $26,305 $27,026 $110,001+ $28,187 $28,960 -
Stockton University
Galloway Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $13,404 $13,739 Room and Board $12,120 $12,282 Books $1,597 $1,597 Other Expenses $3,160 $3,220 Total $30,281 $30,838 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,797 $14,051 $30,001 - $48k $15,082 $15,359 $48,001 - $75k $20,755 $21,137 $75,001 - $110k $24,088 $24,531 $110,001+ $25,821 $26,296 -
The College of New Jersey
Ewing Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $16,149 $16,551 Room and Board $13,201 $13,617 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,918 $3,624 Total $34,468 $34,992 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,646 $12,838 $30,001 - $48k $15,192 $15,423 $48,001 - $75k $24,862 $25,240 $75,001 - $110k $30,378 $30,840 $110,001+ $31,936 $32,422 -
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $12,652 $13,060 Room and Board $11,317 $11,535 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $3,140 $3,140 Total $28,709 $29,335 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,982 $13,265 $30,001 - $48k $14,034 $14,340 $48,001 - $75k $18,367 $18,767 $75,001 - $110k $21,386 $21,852 $110,001+ $20,840 $21,294
Private NJ Schools Cost Breakdown
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Bloomfield College
Bloomfield Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $29,300 $29,950 Room and Board $11,700 $11,950 Books $1,300 $1,230 Other Expenses $3,370 $2,816 Total $45,670 $45,946 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,777 $19,897 $30,001 - $48k $19,877 $19,997 $48,001 - $75k $22,748 $22,885 $75,001 - $110k $25,575 $25,730 $110,001+ $25,408 $25,562 -
Caldwell University
Caldwell Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $34,100 $34,715 Room and Board $12,300 $12,025 Books $2,400 $2,100 Other Expenses $2,100 $1,800 Total $50,900 $50,640 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,059 $14,982 $30,001 - $48k $20,618 $20,513 $48,001 - $75k $25,627 $25,496 $75,001 - $110k $28,829 $28,682 $110,001+ $32,035 $31,871 -
Centenary University
Hackettstown Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $32,580 $32,998 Room and Board $11,110 $11,444 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,416 $3,590 Total $48,306 $49,232 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,586 $13,846 $30,001 - $48k $16,306 $16,619 $48,001 - $75k $18,137 $18,485 $75,001 - $110k $25,615 $26,106 $110,001+ $28,379 $28,923 -
Drew University
Madison Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $49,468 $39,800 Room and Board $13,696 $14,108 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $2,122 $2,122 Total $66,486 $57,230 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,856 $16,231 $30,001 - $48k $18,874 $16,246 $48,001 - $75k $22,185 $19,096 $75,001 - $110k $25,348 $21,819 $110,001+ $35,902 $30,904 -
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $39,446 $40,732 Room and Board $13,086 $13,370 Books $1,230 $1,230 Other Expenses $2,856 $2,856 Total $56,618 $58,188 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,023 $9,273 $30,001 - $48k $11,108 $11,416 $48,001 - $75k $15,410 $15,837 $75,001 - $110k $22,171 $22,786 $110,001+ $21,307 $21,898 -
Felician University
Lodi Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $33,650 $34,320 Room and Board $12,630 $12,880 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $3,050 $3,050 Total $50,630 $51,550 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,634 $13,882 $30,001 - $48k $14,920 $15,191 $48,001 - $75k $21,030 $21,412 $75,001 - $110k $23,783 $24,215 $110,001+ $22,633 $23,044 -
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $41,780 $43,142 Room and Board $13,130 $13,416 Books $1,230 $1,230 Other Expenses $2,856 $2,856 Total $58,996 $60,644 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,362 $13,735 $30,001 - $48k $13,831 $14,217 $48,001 - $75k $21,317 $21,912 $75,001 - $110k $23,455 $24,110 $110,001+ $28,128 $28,914
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Georgian Court University
Lakewood Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $32,260 $32,976 Room and Board $10,808 $10,808 Books $1,350 $1,350 Other Expenses $6,600 $6,600 Total $51,018 $51,734 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,087 $17,327 $30,001 - $48k $17,694 $17,942 $48,001 - $75k $21,238 $21,536 $75,001 - $110k $25,836 $26,199 $110,001+ $29,549 $29,964 -
Monmouth University
West Long Branch Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $36,733 $38,138 Room and Board $13,451 $13,908 Books $1,038 $1,046 Other Expenses $3,638 $3,887 Total $54,860 $56,979 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,011 $20,784 $30,001 - $48k $19,117 $19,855 $48,001 - $75k $27,540 $28,604 $75,001 - $110k $33,176 $34,457 $110,001+ $37,097 $38,530 -
Princeton University
Princeton Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $47,140 $50,340 Room and Board $15,610 $16,360 Books $1,050 $1,050 Other Expenses $3,150 $3,150 Total $66,950 $70,900 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $2,586 $2,739 $30,001 - $48k $2,641 $2,797 $48,001 - $75k $4,620 $4,893 $75,001 - $110k $17,235 $18,252 $110,001+ $34,425 $36,456 -
Rider University
Lawrenceville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $41,310 $42,860 Room and Board $14,700 $15,280 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,500 Total $59,510 $62,140 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,931 $21,856 $30,001 - $48k $22,168 $23,148 $48,001 - $75k $26,148 $27,304 $75,001 - $110k $31,702 $33,103 $110,001+ $35,408 $36,973 -
Saint Peter's University
Jersey City Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $36,402 $37,486 Room and Board $15,334 $15,414 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $1,300 $1,300 Total $54,036 $55,200 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,219 $9,418 $30,001 - $48k $9,332 $9,533 $48,001 - $75k $15,615 $15,951 $75,001 - $110k $21,251 $21,709 $110,001+ $21,982 $22,456 -
Seton Hall University
South Orange Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $40,588 $42,170 Room and Board $13,502 $14,500 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $57,090 $59,670 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,918 $20,818 $30,001 - $48k $23,004 $24,044 $48,001 - $75k $27,957 $29,220 $75,001 - $110k $31,889 $33,330 $110,001+ $35,068 $36,653 -
College of Saint Elizabeth
Morristown Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $33,131 $33,596 Room and Board $12,744 $12,744 Books $1,300 $1,300 Other Expenses $4,899 $4,908 Total $52,074 $52,548 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,097 $16,244 $30,001 - $48k $16,679 $16,831 $48,001 - $75k $23,240 $23,452 $75,001 - $110k $30,246 $30,521 $110,001+ $33,646 $33,952 -
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $50,554 $52,202 Room and Board $14,780 $14,840 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $1,250 $1,050 Total $67,784 $69,292 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $25,148 $25,707 $30,001 - $48k $27,277 $27,884 $48,001 - $75k $31,845 $32,553 $75,001 - $110k $33,890 $34,644 $110,001+ $44,218 $45,202
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