# Rutgers University-New Brunswick: Area Studies (bachelor's)

New Brunswick, NJ. IPEDS 186380, CIP 05.01. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/rutgers-university-new-brunswick/majors/area-studies

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $21,409
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $58,245 (U.S. median for this major: $57,208 across 70 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $25,973 (U.S. median $20,552)
- Rank in NJ: 2 of 2 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the U.S. median: +$1,037

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.19 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $58,245 minus $36,661 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in NJ (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $16,343 | $68,477 | 3.2 years |
| 30-48k | $16,210 | $67,920 | 3.1 years |
| 48-75k | $18,282 | $76,602 | 3.5 years |
| 75-110k | $25,106 | $105,194 | 4.9 years |
| 110k+ | $35,016 | $146,717 | 6.8 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Area Studies at NJ colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | $68,806 | not reported | $18,173 | 70% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $58,245 | $25,973 | $24,406 | 84% |

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).