Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 80/100

Pillar College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Newark, New Jersey

About Pillar College

Pillar College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Newark, New Jersey. It enrolls 498 students (a very small, intimate 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.

Acceptance
Graduation
21.9%
Net Price
$8,470
Median Earnings (10yr)
$45,577
Enrollment
498
Student : Faculty
14:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar Semester

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 Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
80/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 64
Value 79
Affordability 80
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Pillar College.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Pillar College 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 $8,470 per year. That's well below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$8,470
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
70%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
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
$25,900
Room & Board (off-campus)
$24,000
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$38,047

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)


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
    $15,139
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $7,114
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $3,181
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $4,411

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.

$3,433
10% percentile
$6,381
25% percentile
$21,483
Median percentile
$27,749
75% percentile
$42,268
90% 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 $16,750 ↓ $4,733
No Pell $25,000 ↑ $3,517
Dependent students $9,359 ↓ $12,124
Independent students $19,000 ↓ $2,483
Female students $17,689 ↓ $3,794
Male students $17,745 ↓ $3,738
Pell recipients: 15.9% (3,409 students)No Pell: 23.7% (5,089 students)Dependent students: 8.9% (1,905 students)Independent students: 18.0% (3,867 students)Female students: 16.8% (3,601 students)Male students: 16.8% (3,612 students)Overall Median$21,483
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,283, less than completers ($21,483), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

22% of full-time students who enrolled at Pillar College graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
22%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pillar College earn a median of $45,577 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,577
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$37,000$39,000$42,000$44,000$47,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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 24.3 pts across 6 years
36.4%1yr44.3%3yr60.7%5yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 61% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Pillar College is home to 498 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 59% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
498
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
59%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 59.0% 294
Hispanic 27.7% 138
Black 10.6% 53
Asian 0.8% 4
International 0.6% 3
Other 0.4% 2
White: 59.0% (294 students)Hispanic: 27.7% (138 students)Black: 10.6% (53 students)Asian: 0.8% (4 students)International: 0.6% (3 students)Other: 0.4% (2 students)Total498

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Pillar College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Newark, New Jersey
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
53% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Pillar College offers a focused set of programs: 8 distinct programs across 5 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.

1 Program
2 Programs
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Pillar College is 14:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$889,803
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$42,950
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

15 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 6 40% $41,674
Associate Professors 3 20% $34,525
Assistant Professors 4 27% $38,906
No Rank 2 13% $67,500

Pros & Cons of Pillar College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pillar College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Reasonable class sizes
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • Modest first-year retention
  • Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for: Based on the data, Pillar College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pillar College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pillar College.

How much does Pillar College cost?
The average net price after aid at Pillar College is $8,470 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pillar College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,577 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,470 per year. That's roughly 5.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pillar College known for?
Pillar College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Counseling Psychology, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pillar College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pillar College are $45,577, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pillar College accredited?
Yes. Pillar College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Pillar College?
Pillar College enrolls 498 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pillar College?
Pillar College graduates 22% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pillar College a public or private college?
Pillar College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Pillar College located?
Pillar College is located in Newark, New Jersey.
What programs does Pillar College offer?
Pillar College offers 8 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Counseling Psychology, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pillar College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pillar College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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