Information Science/Studies at Ramapo College of New Jersey

Ramapo's Information Science program starts graduates nearly $10,000 below the state median, but there's an encouraging growth trajectory that narrows that gap. First-year earnings of $49,568 jump 35% to $66,700 by year four—a strong catch-up pattern that suggests the degree builds practical skills employers increasingly value. Still, this ranks 40th percentile among New Jersey's six programs, landing well behind schools like NJIT ($61,739) and Rutgers ($56,360) where graduates start stronger.

The $26,000 debt load is reasonable—actually slightly above the state median but manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52. That means graduates owe about half their first-year salary, which keeps payments feasible during those leaner early years. The question is whether starting $7,000 behind state peers justifies the eventual convergence, especially when faster-starting programs might offer both immediate earnings and similar growth potential.

For families weighing cost against opportunity, Ramapo offers a decent safety net: modest debt and genuine earnings progression. But if your student can access NJIT or Rutgers—particularly for in-state tuition—those programs deliver stronger initial outcomes without sacrificing long-term prospects. Ramapo works as a viable path into information science, just not the most financially efficient one in New Jersey.