School value profile
Rutgers University-Newark OT value profile
Review why Rutgers University-Newark ranks #62 in The OT Index public-program value ranking, including institution-level cost, debt, completion, state labor-market context, and matched ACOTE program profiles.
Value rank #6250.0 value score$17,250 in-state tuition$21,500 median debt
Value snapshot
Cost, debt, completion, and career-return context
This profile keeps College Scorecard institution-level measures separate from ACOTE and NBCOT program-specific context so applicants can see what is known and what still needs direct confirmation.
Our take
Rutgers University-Newark value assessment
Why it stands out
- 64% completion is above the comparison midpoint, which matters because affordability is more compelling when students are also completing at a strong rate.
- New Jersey's labor-market score is above the program-set midpoint, giving graduates a stronger local employment backdrop than price alone would suggest.
Tradeoffs that matter
- Published in-state tuition is $6,778 above the comparison midpoint, so this is not one of the genuinely low-price public options.
- Median debt is $549 above the midpoint. That borrowing result directly weakens the return-on-cost case.
- A #62 rank places the institution in the lower half of the public-value comparison; stronger-priced alternatives are readily available in the same dataset.
What to compare next
- Compare Rutgers University-Newark with the two nearest-ranked public options on tuition and debt separately; similar value scores can be driven by different affordability strengths.
- Compare the matched OT doctorate program profile on degree and delivery format before treating the institution-level price advantage as a program-level win.
- Put New Jersey's labor-market score beside the state where you expect to work after graduation; local value is less relevant when the likely first job is elsewhere.
Applicant read
What makes this school look affordable—or not
The value score is strongest when low cost, manageable debt, institution-wide completion strength, and local labor-market opportunity point in the same direction.
Published tuition
The published in-state tuition is higher than the lowest-cost public options in this ranking, so scholarships and a realistic borrowing plan matter more.
Median debt
The institution-wide median debt is moderate, so tuition—not unusually low borrowing—is doing most of the work in the value score.
Completion rate
The institution-wide completion rate is low enough to undercut the value case: a low price matters less when completion is less dependable.
State opportunity
New Jersey strengthens the value case because its BLS pay and employment figures compare well with other states.
Program profiles
Linked ACOTE program profiles
Open the program-level profiles before treating the institution-level value score as an application decision.
| Program profile | Value context | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-Newark OT doctorate profile | OT doctorate program; ACOTE next on-site review 2030/2031. | Open profile |
Compare value options
Other public OT value profiles
Compare the value score against other public options before narrowing your application list.
Rank #59
Kean University
$14,299 in-state tuition; $23,250 median debt; 50.1 value score.
Open value profile Rank #44Stockton University
$16,266 in-state tuition; $20,500 median debt; 54.1 value score.
Open value profile Rank #61Indiana State University
$10,258 in-state tuition; $24,000 median debt; 50.0 value score.
Open value profile
Rutgers University-Newark is a weaker value proposition than most public institutions in this comparison for an in-state applicant. Neither tuition nor debt beats the comparison midpoint, which explains the weaker placement. The 64% completion rate supports the case.