by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking is part of that endeavor. This list may shock you as many typically expensive schools are very generous with need-based financial aid.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 43 schools in New Jersey to determine which ones have the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Princeton University the best value (income $0-$30k) school in New Jersey. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, the school is a medium-sized private not-for-profit institution.
Princeton University has the honor of being ranked #1 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,761.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rutgers University - New Brunswick. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. Rutgers New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Rutgers University - New Brunswick a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in New Jersey for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,114.
The quality degree programs at The College of New Jersey helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey. Located in Ewing, New Jersey, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
The College of New Jersey has the honor of being ranked #5 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,889.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Jersey Institute of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. NJIT is a fairly large public school situated in Newark, New Jersey.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, New Jersey Institute of Technology is ranked #4 for quality in the state of New Jersey. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,517.
Read full value report on New Jersey Institute of Technology
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list means Rutgers University - Newark is a great place for students working on their degree. This fairly large public school is located in Newark, New Jersey.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Rutgers University - Newark is ranked #6 for quality in the state of New Jersey. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $9,151.
Essex County College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Newark, New Jersey.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Essex County College is ranked #18 for quality in the state of New Jersey. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,948.
Montclair State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. Montclair State is a public institution located in Montclair, New Jersey.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Montclair State University is ranked #7 for quality in the state of New Jersey. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,028.
With a ranking of #8, Bergen Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. Bergen Community College is a public institution located in Paramus, New Jersey.
Not only is Bergen Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in New Jersey for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,454.
Rowan College at Burlington County did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #9. Rowan College at Burlington County is a medium-sized public school located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.
Rowan College at Burlington County has the honor of being ranked #26 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,764.
Learn More About Value at Rowan College at Burlington County
Ramapo College of New Jersey ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. Mahwah, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Ramapo College of New Jersey is ranked #19 for quality in the state of New Jersey. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,453.
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking. Located in Teaneck, New Jersey, the school is a medium-sized private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in New Jersey for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,667.
Read full value report on Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus
With a ranking of #12, Raritan Valley Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. RVCC is a public institution located in Branchburg, New Jersey.
Raritan Valley Community College has the honor of being ranked #34 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,215.
With a ranking of #13, Camden County College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. This medium-sized public school is located in Blackwood, New Jersey.
Camden County College has the honor of being ranked #38 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,994.
Rutgers University - Camden did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #14. Rutgers Camden is a public institution located in Camden, New Jersey.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Rutgers University - Camden is ranked #15 for quality in the state of New Jersey. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,832.
County College of Morris ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. County College of Morris is a public institution located in Randolph, New Jersey.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, County College of Morris is ranked #31 for quality in the state of New Jersey. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,430.
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking. Madison, New Jersey is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus has the honor of being ranked #30 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,365.
Learn More About Value at Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus
Atlantic Cape Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #17. Mays Landing, New Jersey is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Atlantic Cape Community College has the honor of being ranked #33 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,603.
Hudson County Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #18. HCCC is located in Jersey City, New Jersey and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Hudson County Community College has the honor of being ranked #42 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,238.
Caldwell University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #19. Caldwell is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Caldwell, New Jersey.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Caldwell University is ranked #28 for quality in the state of New Jersey. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,778.
Brookdale Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #20. Brookdale Community College is a public institution located in Lincroft, New Jersey.
Not only is Brookdale Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #40 in New Jersey for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,548.
Stockton University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. Stockton State is located in Galloway, New Jersey and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Stockton University a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in New Jersey for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,550.
With a ranking of #22, Drew University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey list. Located in Madison, New Jersey, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Drew University a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in New Jersey for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,942.
Ocean County College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking. OCC is a public institution located in Toms River, New Jersey.
Ocean County College has the honor of being ranked #24 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,043.
Saint Peter’s University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #24. Saint Peter’s College is located in Jersey City, New Jersey and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Saint Peter’s University is ranked #37 for quality in the state of New Jersey. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,629.
Passaic County Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in New Jersey ranking. PCCC is located in Paterson, New Jersey and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Passaic County Community College has the honor of being ranked #39 in New Jersey for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,955.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
