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Pillar College

Private nonprofit Newark, NJ · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 87% data
A- Value B+ Affordability C+ Earnings
Graduation Rate
36% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$45,577 C+
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$8,470 B+
51% less than the typical college
Enrollment
498
Earnings +12% vs avg
Graduation -37% vs avg
Net Price +-51% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 33.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $33.8 over 20 years.

33.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $33.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,111,562.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduation of 36% — 37% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $33.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Pillar College

Pillar College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

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
498
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI · 108
Primary Strengths
Psychology, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Education

Why students choose Pillar College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Psychology
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 38% overall
C+
Earnings
$45,577 median
A-
Value
5.4× net price
B+
Affordability
$8,470/yr net
D
Graduation
36% graduate
C
Diversity
0.56 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Pillar College is a great fit for students who are looking for a supportive environment to pursue degrees in areas like Humanities, Psychology, Business & Marketing, and Education. With around 500 students, the college fosters a close-knit community that often feels more personal than larger institutions. This can be especially appealing for those who thrive in smaller settings where collaboration and individual attention from faculty is more attainable.

After graduation, students can expect to earn about $45,577 within ten years. That figure is significant as it indicates a solid return on investment for their education, especially considering the college’s affordable cost structure. Many students here benefit from Pell Grants, with about 70% receiving this financial aid, which highlights the college’s accessibility for those from lower-income backgrounds.

The practicalities of attending Pillar College are also encouraging. After financial aid, the net price is around $8,470, making it relatively affordable for a private institution. However, the median debt for graduates stands at $21,483, which is something to factor in when considering future earnings. Students who tend to thrive here often value a faith-based approach to education and are committed to making a difference in their communities.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Pillar College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Pillar College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Newark, New Jersey, Pillar College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.

Retention Rate
74%
Full-Time Faculty
33%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$5,265
Student–Faculty Ratio
10:1
Diversity Index
0.56
First-Gen Students
59%

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 Pillar College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Pillar College is $25,900, 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 $8,470. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,139 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,483 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$25,900
Out-of-State
$25,900
Avg Net Price
$8,470
Median Debt
$21,483
Pell Grant Rate
70%
Federal Loan Rate
42%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$15,139
Family Income $30K–$48K
$7,114
Family Income $48K–$75K
$3,181

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 Pillar College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Pillar College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Pillar College earn a median of $45,577, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$37,885
8 Years
$39,518
10 Years
$45,577
Debt-to-Earnings
0.47x
Earning > $25K
64%

Earnings Trajectory

$37,885 6yr $39,518 8yr $45,577 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (3)
12%
100% (3)
12%
100% (3)
12%
100% (3)
12%

How Pillar Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation36%Earnings 10yr$46KNet Price$8KRetention74%Median Debt$21KPell Grant Rate70%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$15K$0-30K$7K$30-48K$3K$48-75K

College ROI Calculator

Is Pillar College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Pillar College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,470/year ($33,880 total). Graduates earn $45,577 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,145,442 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,111,562 (33.8× your investment). The median debt is $21,483, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$33,880
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,145,442
Net Return
$1,111,562
ROI Multiple
33.8×
Cost Per Year
$8,470
Median Debt
$21,483
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
36%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$273,322
Federal Grants
$3,094,319
Investment Income
$-1,122

Top Programs

The fields Pillar College 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Pillar College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Newark, New Jersey, Pillar College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pillar College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Pillar College is $25,900, 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 $8,470. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,139 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,483 in federal student loans.

Is Pillar College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Pillar College earn a median of $45,577, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Pillar College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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