Solid graduate outcomes with earnings above the peer average.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
Rutgers graduates experience steady career progression, with median earnings increasing from $61,263 at six years to $67,665 at eight years and $74,479 at ten years after enrollment. This represents 21.6% growth between the six-year and ten-year marks, indicating consistent career advancement as graduates gain experience.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings exceed the peer average, indicating above-typical outcomes for this institution type.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $21,500 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
Rutgers graduates carry median debt of $21,500, slightly above the peer median of $20,000 but within reasonable range for four-year degree completion. Student debt spans from $10,044 at the 25th percentile to $27,000 at the 75th percentile, indicating meaningful variation in borrowing patterns among graduates.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick demonstrates well above average return on investment, ranking at the 85.2nd percentile nationally for return performance. Graduates earn $5,251 beyond expectations relative to similar students and institutional characteristics, placing the university at the 74.6th percentile for earnings uplift.
Approximately 27.3% of Rutgers graduates continue to graduate or professional study, estimated with high confidence based on program mix analysis. Th...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
High-earning programs drive much of Rutgers' strong return performance, with Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduates earning $119,602 and Artificial Intelligence graduates earning $114,399. Actuarial Science graduates earn $99,075, while nursing graduates earn $86,247 and business graduates in banking and finance earn $86,111.
These flagship programs demonstrate the university's particular strengths in STEM fields, healthcare, and specialized business disciplines. More modest-earning programs like Psychology ($49,641) and American Government and Politics ($53,569) often serve as preparation for graduate school or public service careers where initial earnings may not reflect long-term career value.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
The earnings distribution from $49,127 at the 25th percentile to $107,416 at the 75th percentile demonstrates meaningful upward mobility potential for graduates across different career paths. This 2.2:1 ratio between top and bottom quartiles reflects program diversity and individual career choices while maintaining reasonable income floors.
