Business/Commerce at Strayer University-New Jersey

Strayer's business associate degree delivers strong earnings—graduates make $44,154 within a year, placing them in the 95th percentile nationally for this program. However, that impressive national ranking masks a significant problem: achieving those results costs $32,810 in debt, nearly five times what students pay at other New Jersey business programs (state median: $7,372). You're essentially paying private university prices for earnings that, while solid, land in the middle of the pack among New Jersey competitors.

The numbers tell a clear story about value. At 60th percentile for state earnings, Strayer graduates earn roughly $7,000 more annually than the typical New Jersey business associate degree holder. But nearby Raritan Valley Community College produces graduates earning $38,387 with dramatically lower debt loads. The 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic—graduates can manage these payments—but it's concerning when community colleges deliver comparable outcomes for a fraction of the cost.

For families paying out of pocket, this looks like overpaying for outcomes you can get elsewhere. The 66% Pell grant rate suggests many students here rely heavily on financial aid, which makes the premium pricing particularly problematic. Unless you have specific circumstances that make community college unworkable, exploring those options first makes financial sense.