At $19,037/yr net price, Centenary University graduates earn $53,726/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $19,726/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $19,037 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $76,148 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,726/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$19,726/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 56.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,163 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,735/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,416/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,190/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,819/yr |
| $110,001+ | $25,288/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $79,755 | $39,633 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $69,593 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor | $51,273 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $50,856 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $50,375 | $23,611 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $42,979 | $25,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $39,369 | |
| Apparel and Textiles. | Bachelor | $39,009 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $38,289 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $36,848 | $20,000 |
The Risk Factor
56.6% of students at Centenary University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Centenary University gives you a middling financial return. Median earnings of $53,726 ten years out sit above the roughly $23,000 in debt you'd carry, so the debt load is manageable on paper. But a 56.60% graduation rate is the problem: nearly half of students who enroll don't finish, and if you leave with debt and no degree, none of the earnings math applies to you.
The degrees that pay off here are teacher education and accounting, both landing near $51,000. If you're aiming for a classroom or a CPA track, the numbers work. Business administration lags at $42,979 while carrying the heaviest debt on the list ($25,000), so you'd graduate owing more and earning less than the education majors. Apparel and textiles sits at the bottom near $39,000, which barely clears the debt you'd take on. Pick your major carefully, because the spread between the best and worst outcomes here is over $12,000 a year.
The specific risk at Centenary is completion. A 74.87% retention rate means a quarter of first-year students don't return for a second year. Combined with the graduation rate, your odds of finishing are far from guaranteed.
On price, families earning under $48,000 pay around $13,400 a year, and the cost climbs steadily with income to over $25,000 for families above $110,000. If you're in the lower tiers and targeting teaching or accounting, this is a reasonable bet. If you're paying full freight for a business or apparel degree, the return doesn't justify the cost. Look elsewhere unless you're committed to one of the higher-paying programs and confident you'll graduate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Centenary University worth the cost?
Centenary University's value depends heavily on your program choice. Business and educational administration graduates earn $70,000-80,000 annually, making the $19,000 net price worthwhile, but other programs show weaker returns with median earnings around $53,700.
What is Centenary University's return on investment?
Centenary University shows mixed ROI results. The school's business and education administration programs offer strong earning potential, but the 57% graduation rate and $53,700 median earnings suggest many students don't see strong returns on their investment.
How much debt do Centenary University students graduate with?
Centenary University graduates carry a median debt of $23,163. This debt level is manageable for business and education administration majors who earn $70,000+, but creates repayment challenges for graduates in lower-paying programs.
Which programs at Centenary University have the best job prospects?
Business administration and educational administration are Centenary University's strongest programs financially, with graduates earning $70,000-80,000 annually. Teaching programs show more modest returns around $50,000-51,000, while other majors may struggle to justify the cost.