Location: Trenton, NJ•In-State Tuition: $6,638•Out-of-State Tuition: $8,598
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$38,255
Est. from NJ median (12 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$20,731
Est. from NJ median (6 programs)

Analysis

A $38,000 first-year salary positions this program right at New Jersey's median for marketing bachelor's degrees, but well below the national median of $45,000—a gap that matters when you're starting a career. Based on comparable programs at Thomas Edison State, graduates would carry an estimated $20,731 in debt, which translates to a manageable 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio. This sits comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold, suggesting monthly payments that shouldn't overwhelm entry-level marketing salaries.

The challenge here is understanding what you're getting versus better-established alternatives. Marketing programs at Rutgers campuses and Seton Hall produce first-year earnings in the $48,000-$50,000 range—roughly $10,000 more annually than similar programs suggest for Thomas Edison State. That's $800+ extra per month that compounds over a career. Thomas Edison State serves primarily working adults seeking flexible degree completion, which may explain why outcome data is limited and why earnings patterns might differ from traditional programs.

For a student who needs the online, self-paced structure Thomas Edison State offers, the estimated debt load looks reasonable. But if your child can attend a traditional program, the earnings premium at New Jersey's flagship universities appears substantial enough to justify exploring those options first. The financial case here depends heavily on whether this program's flexibility solves a specific need that other schools can't meet.

Where Thomas Edison State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all marketing bachelors's programs nationally

Thomas Edison State University (estimated ±10%)Other marketing programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in New Jersey

Marketing bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New Jersey (18 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Thomas Edison State UniversityTrenton$6,638$38,255*—$20,731*—
Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange$51,370$50,200*$70,858$23,250*0.46
Rutgers University-CamdenCamden$17,079$48,645*$64,960$20,731*0.43
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick$17,239$48,645*$64,960$20,731*0.43
Rutgers University-NewarkNewark$16,586$48,645*$64,960$20,731*0.43
Rider UniversityLawrenceville$38,900$44,352*$55,199$27,000*0.61
National Median—$44,728*—$24,267*0.54
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with marketing graduates

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Marketing Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Thomas Edison State University, approximately 21% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 12 similar programs in NJ. Actual outcomes may vary.