Drew University
#4 Best Communications Colleges in New Jersey- Graduation Rate
- 71% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $63,646 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $24,280 D
- 42% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 68% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Communications Colleges in New Jersey.
Every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,793,941.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 56% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.31% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Drew University Matters
Drew University is a private liberal arts college in Madison, NJ and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,533
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- 71
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Drew University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 68% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1103–1338. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,280 a year after grants and scholarships — 42% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $63,646 ten years after enrolling — 56% above the typical college, against $25,288 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 20% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.81 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Drew University is a great fit for students who are looking for a personalized education experience in a vibrant, supportive community. With around 1,533 students enrolled and an acceptance rate of 68%, it offers a blend of academic rigor and a close-knit atmosphere. Popular areas of study include Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Psychology, Biology & Biomedical, and Visual & Performing Arts. This variety allows students to explore their interests deeply while preparing for diverse career paths.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $63,646 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure indicates that many graduates find success in their chosen fields. While we don't have data on mobility or economic connectedness, the overall graduation rate of 71% suggests that students are generally able to complete their programs and move on to rewarding careers. This stability is important, especially when considering the long-term impact of education on earning potential.
When it comes to finances, the net price after aid at Drew University is approximately $24,280, which can be manageable depending on your financial situation. The median debt for graduates stands at $25,288, indicating that while there is some debt, it’s not overwhelmingly high compared to earnings. Students who thrive here often appreciate the strong community ties and the opportunity to engage closely with faculty, which can enhance both their academic and personal growth.
Rankings
- #4 Best Communications Colleges in New Jersey
- #6 Best Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey
- #6 Best Master's Programs in New Jersey
- #6 Best Psychology Colleges in New Jersey
- #6 Best Biology Colleges in New Jersey
- #9 Best Colleges in New Jersey
- #9 Best Computer Science Colleges in New Jersey
- #9 Best Data Science Colleges in New Jersey
Can I Get In?
How selective Drew University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Drew University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Madison, New Jersey, Drew University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,227. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Retention Rate
- 88%
- SAT Average
- 1227
- SAT Range
- 1103–1338
- ACT Range
- 24–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,405
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 3,855
- Admitted
- 2,801
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Drew University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Drew University is $47,100, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,280. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,224 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,288 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $47,100
- Out-of-State
- $47,100
- Avg Net Price
- $24,280
- Median Debt
- $25,288
- Pell Grant Rate
- 29%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 45%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,224
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,697
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,916
- Family Income $110K+
- $35,512
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Drew University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Drew University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Drew University earn a median of $63,646, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,562
- 8 Years
- $52,274
- 10 Years
- $63,646
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.4x
- Earning > $25K
- 62%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (192)
- 64%
- 100% (192)
- 64%
- 100% (192)
- 64%
- 100% (192)
- 64%
How Drew Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Drew University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Drew University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,280/year ($97,120 total). Graduates earn $63,646 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,891,061 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,793,941 (19.5× your investment). The median debt is $25,288, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 71% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $97,120
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,891,061
- Net Return
- $1,793,941
- ROI Multiple
- 19.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,280
- Median Debt
- $25,288
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 71%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Drew University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Drew University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.31%, among the highest in the country. About 4.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 56.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $140,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.31%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 56.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $190,754
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-12,434,000
Top Programs
The fields Drew University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 19% $56,154 early-career
- Social Sciences 15% $65,959 early-career
- Psychology 14% $35,271 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $35,271 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $29,935 early-career
- Communications 6%
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- English & Literature 5% $25,678 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Drew University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Drew University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Madison, New Jersey, Drew University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,227. The graduation rate is roughly 71%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Drew University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Drew University is $47,100, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,280. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,224 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,288 in federal student loans.
Is Drew University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Drew University earn a median of $63,646, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Drew University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Drew University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.31%, among the highest in the country. About 4.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 56.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $140,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Drew University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Drew University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Drew University.
- Simmons UniversityBoston, MA · Close peer72% grad $63,494 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Concordia University-IrvineIrvine, CA · Close peer60% grad $65,083 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- St. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's City, MD · Close peer69% grad $60,110 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rockhurst UniversityKansas City, MO · Close peer75% grad $67,102 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Augustana UniversitySioux Falls, SD · Close peer74% grad $59,217 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Vincent CollegeLatrobe, PA · Close peer70% grad $59,982 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Drew University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Drew University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.81, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note