Information Science/Studies at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers-New Brunswick's Information Science program delivers solid career growth but starts behind the competition. While first-year earnings of $56,360 trail both national ($58,651) and state medians, the program's strength lies in its impressive 45% earnings growth—graduates jump to $81,920 by year four, well above typical outcomes for this field.

The debt picture is reasonable at $25,000, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44. However, this program ranks in just the 40th percentile among New Jersey's six Information Science programs, with competitors like Strayer ($71,167) and NJIT ($61,739) offering significantly higher starting salaries. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates makes these comparisons reliable.

For parents, this represents a "slow and steady" investment rather than a quick win. Your child will likely start with lower earnings than peers at other New Jersey schools but should see strong income growth over time. At Rutgers' reasonable tuition rates and with manageable debt levels, this program can work financially—but if your child can gain admission to NJIT or handle Strayer's format, those alternatives offer better immediate earning potential in the same field.