Centenary University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Hackettstown, New Jersey. It enrolls 910 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes48
Value47
Affordability56
Selectivity21
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.1%, Centenary University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.1%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Centenary University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
21.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Centenary University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,503 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,503
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
63%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$37,732
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,552
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,080
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,960
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,614
Total Cost of Attendance
$52,362
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,329
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,047
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,277
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,306
Over $110,000
$28,735
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,00010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$23,163Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,85690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $21,318
↓ $1,845
No Pell $16,748
↓ $6,415
Dependent students $18,250
↓ $4,913
Independent students $23,571
↑ $408
Female students $19,500
↓ $3,663
Male students $18,688
↓ $4,475
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,960, less than completers ($23,163), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
62% of full-time students who enrolled at Centenary University graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Centenary University earn a median of $53,726 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,726
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$47,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$55,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,800, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 85% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Centenary University is home to 910 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
910
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 61.1%556
Hispanic 19.7%179
Black 9.1%83
Other 4.8%44
Asian 2.0%18
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Centenary University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbHackettstown, New Jersey
Housing
Strongly residential756 beds for 910 students
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Centenary University offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Centenary University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$31M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,839
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
57 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
8
14%
$84,265
Associate Professors
18
32%
$64,826
Assistant Professors
25
44%
$59,723
Instructors
6
11%
$50,792
Pros & Cons of Centenary University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Centenary University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Centenary University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Centenary University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Centenary University.
Is Centenary University hard to get into?
Centenary University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.1%.
What is the acceptance rate at Centenary University?
Centenary University has an acceptance rate of 83.1%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Centenary University cost?
The average net price after aid at Centenary University is $20,503 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Centenary University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,726 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,503 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Centenary University known for?
Centenary University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Centenary University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Centenary University are $53,726, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Centenary University accredited?
Yes. Centenary University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Centenary University?
Centenary University enrolls 910 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Centenary University?
Centenary University graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Centenary University a public or private college?
Centenary University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Centenary University located?
Centenary University is located in Hackettstown, New Jersey.
What programs does Centenary University offer?
Centenary University offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teacher Education (K-12), Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Centenary University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Centenary University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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