by our College Data Analytics TeamRutgers University New Brunswick ranks #1 of 34 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in New Jersey ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 57% six-year graduation rate and $56,788 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in New Jersey, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **34** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 34 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Rutgers University New Brunswick leads the 34 ranked colleges in New Jersey, followed by Middlesex County College (#2) and Raritan Valley Community College (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Rutgers University New Brunswick tops our 2027 ranking of the best colleges in New Jersey. Based in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,402. The median student debt is $25,120.
Middlesex County College came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in New Jersey. Set in Edison, NJ, Middlesex County College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,975. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete a degree here.
Raritan Valley Community College came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in New Jersey. Raritan Valley Community College is a public school based in Branchburg, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,584. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,248. Students borrow a median of $9,668 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes County College Of Morris one of the top colleges in New Jersey. Located in Randolph, NJ, County College Of Morris is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,210, compared with $14,310 for out-of-state students. County College Of Morris graduates report median early-career earnings of $30,966. Students borrow a median of $9,420 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 34 colleges in New Jersey in this year's ranking, Thomas Edison State College landed the #5 spot. Located in Trenton, NJ, Thomas Edison State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,838, compared with $8,856 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,792 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $16,149.
Saint Peters College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Saint Peters College is a private not-for-profit school based in Jersey City, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Students from in state pay about $42,552 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,944. The median student debt is $22,969.
Burlington County College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Burlington County College is a public school based in Mount Laurel, NJ. Students from in state pay about $6,990 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,495. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,240. Typical student debt is $12,488.
Bergen Community College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Paramus, NJ, Bergen Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,913, with out-of-state students paying around $9,294. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,280. Bergen Community College students take on a median of $17,720 in debt.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus did well this year, earning the #9 position. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Teaneck, NJ. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,010. Median early-career earnings reach $54,505. Graduates carry a median of $24,770 in student loans.
Camden County College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Blackwood, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $4,416. Camden County College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,549. Students borrow a median of $12,999 to complete a degree here.
Felician College placed #11 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Located in Lodi, NJ, Felician College is a private not-for-profit institution. Felician College graduates 47% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,300. Felician College graduates report median early-career earnings of $56,976. Felician College students take on a median of $28,500 in debt.
Ocean County College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Toms River, NJ, Ocean County College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,906, with out-of-state students paying around $6,970. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,306 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $13,792.
Brookdale Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Lincroft, NJ. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,270, compared with $10,140 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $37,374 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,651 to complete a degree here.
Union County College placed #14 among the best colleges in New Jersey. This public school is set in Cranford, NJ. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $9,500. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,168. Typical student debt is $14,218.
Mercer County Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in West Windsor, NJ, Mercer County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,310, while out-of-state students pay about $9,174. Mercer County Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,389. The median student debt is $12,250.
Berkeley College Woodland Park placed #16 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Based in Woodland Park, NJ, Berkeley College Woodland Park is a private for-profit institution. Berkeley College Woodland Park posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees run about $28,320. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,184. Students borrow a median of $27,068 to complete a degree here.
Essex County College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Newark, NJ. Students from in state pay about $5,415 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,523 for out-of-state students. Essex County College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,915. Graduates carry a median of $12,472 in student loans.
Cumberland County College placed #18 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Set in Vineland, NJ, Cumberland County College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,469. Cumberland County College students take on a median of $13,040 in debt.
Gloucester County College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Sewell, NJ, Gloucester County College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,160, with out-of-state students paying around $6,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,274. Graduates carry a median of $13,236 in student loans.
Hudson County Community College landed the #20 spot in New Jersey this year. Located in Jersey City, NJ, Hudson County Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,384 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,248. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,909. Students borrow a median of $10,671 to complete a degree here.
Atlantic Cape Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Mays Landing, NJ, Atlantic Cape Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,594, compared with $8,350 for out-of-state students. Atlantic Cape Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $37,141. Typical student debt is $12,002.
Salem Community College placed #22 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Salem Community College is a public school based in Carneys Point, NJ. Students from in state pay about $6,360 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,260. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,781. Typical student debt is $17,232.
Passaic County Community College landed the #23 spot in New Jersey this year. Passaic County Community College is a public school based in Paterson, NJ. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,300, with out-of-state students paying around $10,560. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $28,957. Graduates carry a median of $9,581 in student loans.
Sussex County Community College landed the #24 spot in New Jersey this year. Sussex County Community College is a public school based in Newton, NJ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,544, compared with $9,024 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $27,179. Sussex County Community College students take on a median of $10,750 in debt.
Warren County Community College did well this year, earning the #25 position. This public school is set in Washington, NJ. In-state tuition and fees average $5,460, compared with $6,360 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $22,140. Warren County Community College students take on a median of $8,875 in debt.
These 9 colleges rank #26 through #34 of 34 in New Jersey. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
