Best Colleges in New Jersey

The best colleges in New Jersey are Princeton University and New Jersey Institute of Technology according to our economic score metric. New Jersey is home to 2 of the 9 colleges founded before the American Revolution: Princeton University and Rutgers University. The state has a lot to offer, with the iconic Jersey Shore, Atlantic City, and Liberty State Park drawing people in from around the country.

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Studying in New Jersey

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Best Colleges in New Jersey

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#1 in New Jersey | #4 in National Universities

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

Economic score 0.51

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $9,836

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $95,689

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 98%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#2 in New Jersey | #37 in National Universities
Economic score 1.45

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,582

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $80,043

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 83%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#3 in New Jersey
Economic score 1.69

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,069

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $55,994

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 55%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#4 in New Jersey | #99 in National Universities
Economic score 2.10

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $37,211

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $98,159

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 85%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#5 in New Jersey | #110 in National Universities

Rutgers University, New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey

Economic score 2.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $23,035

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,661

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#6 in New Jersey

Saint Peter's University

Jersey City, New Jersey

Economic score 2.29

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $12,470

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $51,027

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#7 in New Jersey

The College of New Jersey

Ewing, New Jersey

Economic score 2.47

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $28,245

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $65,481

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 86%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#8 in New Jersey
Economic score 2.49

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,707

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $60,019

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 72%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#9 in New Jersey

Felician University

Lodi, New Jersey

Economic score 2.53

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,984

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $54,650

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 68%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#10 in New Jersey | #169 in National Universities

Seton Hall University

South Orange, New Jersey

Economic score 2.72

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $32,634

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $68,441

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#11 in New Jersey | #172 in National Universities

Montclair State University

Montclair, New Jersey

Economic score 2.74

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $17,381

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $54,289

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#12 in New Jersey

Centenary University

Hackettstown, New Jersey

Economic score 2.76

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $16,105

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $51,404

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#13 in New Jersey | #51 in Liberal Arts

Drew University

Madison, New Jersey

Economic score 2.97

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $25,776

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $57,185

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#14 in New Jersey

New Jersey City University

Jersey City, New Jersey

Economic score 2.98

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $13,297

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,606

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 59%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#15 in New Jersey

Monmouth University

West Long Branch, New Jersey

Economic score 3.23

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $29,877

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $59,513

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 75%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#16 in New Jersey

Caldwell University

Caldwell, New Jersey

Economic score 3.37

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $20,175

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $51,823

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#17 in New Jersey | #256 in National Universities

Kean University

Union, New Jersey

Economic score 3.38

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,191

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,888

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 60%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#18 in New Jersey
Economic score 3.53

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $18,498

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $51,506

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#19 in New Jersey

Rider University

Lawrenceville, New Jersey

Economic score 3.55

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $27,882

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,442

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 70%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

#20 in New Jersey | #271 in National Universities

Stockton University

Galloway, New Jersey

Economic score 3.58

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $21,404

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $51,729

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 76%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (48%) are not  displayed.

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Average income based on education level

The following figures are the average salaries in New Jersey for each level of education.  

Average Income

The average income of people in this state with a high-school diploma, certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree, 10 years after enrollment, based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

HS Diploma $24,850
Certificate N/A
Associate $36,693
Bachelor $57,783
Master $68,502

Cost of attending college in New Jersey

In-state-tuition $20,176

The average in-state tuition, before financial aid, of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Out-of-state-tuition $22,584

The average tuition for out-of-state students, before financial aid of all 4-year institutions in the state. Includes public, private, online, on-campus, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Based on 2021-2022 CSC data.

Most popular degrees in New Jersey

In New Jersey the most popular degrees are Business Administration, Psychology, and Registered Nursing. To create this list, we complied and analyzed data from IPEDS and College Scorecard. 

They both provide information on how many graduates each program has annually. The list below is both undergraduate- and graduate-level programs.

Fastest growing careers

New Jersey job growth 11.1%

Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
68.2%
Nurse Practitioners
61.3%
Massage Therapists
47.9%
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers
41%
Occupational Therapy Assistants
40.9%
Physical Therapist Assistants
39.4%
Physician Assistants
39.1%
Statisticians
35%
Medical and Health Services Managers
33.4%
Aerospace Engineers
32.4%

Best bachelor’s degrees in New Jersey

These majors are most likely to pay off economically after graduation.

Best colleges for social mobility in New Jersey

Higher education is supposed to act as an economic elevator that lifts students from low-income households into the middle class. But not all colleges do this: unfortunately, many of the nation’s most “prestigious” schools accept very few students from low-income backgrounds. 

To determine what colleges are doing the best job at lifting students out of poverty, we have devised a Social Mobility Index (SMI).  

The best colleges for social mobility in New Jersey are shown below. 

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Propel your career from anywhere.

Take our quiz to find the online degree that’s best for you. Compare hundreds of schools and apply to your dream college today.