by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in New Jersey, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **23** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 23 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.
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Rutgers University New Brunswick tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in New Jersey. Located in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,402. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at County College Of Morris, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Randolph, NJ, County College Of Morris is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,210, compared with $14,310 for out-of-state students. County College Of Morris graduates report median early-career earnings of $30,966. The median student debt is $9,420.
Out of the 23 colleges in New Jersey in this year's ranking, Middlesex County College landed the #3 spot. Middlesex County College is a public school based in Edison, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,764, compared with $7,356 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,975. Typical student debt is $9,514.
Raritan Valley Community College came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in New Jersey. Raritan Valley Community College is a public school based in Branchburg, NJ. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,584. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,248. Raritan Valley Community College students take on a median of $9,668 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Thomas Edison State College one of the top colleges in New Jersey. Thomas Edison State College is a public school based in Trenton, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,838, with out-of-state students paying around $8,856. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,792. Typical student debt is $16,149.
Bergen Community College placed #6 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Based in Paramus, NJ, Bergen Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,913, with out-of-state students paying around $9,294. Bergen Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,280. Graduates carry a median of $17,720 in student loans.
Camden County College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Blackwood, NJ, Camden County College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,416. Camden County College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,549. Graduates carry a median of $12,999 in student loans.
Burlington County College did well this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Mount Laurel, NJ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,990, while out-of-state students pay about $9,495. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,240 early in their careers. Burlington County College students take on a median of $12,488 in debt.
Brookdale Community College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Brookdale Community College is a public school based in Lincroft, NJ. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,270, while out-of-state students pay about $10,140. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,374. Students borrow a median of $12,651 to complete a degree here.
Union County College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Union County College is a public school based in Cranford, NJ. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $9,500. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,168. Graduates carry a median of $14,218 in student loans.
Ocean County College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Toms River, NJ, Ocean County College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,906, compared with $6,970 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,306 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $13,792 in student loans.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus landed the #12 spot in New Jersey this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Teaneck, NJ. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,010. Median early-career earnings reach $54,505. Typical student debt is $24,770.
Mercer County Community College did well this year, earning the #13 position. This public school is set in West Windsor, NJ. Students from in state pay about $5,310 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,174. Mercer County Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,389. Graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans.
Berkeley College Woodland Park did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Woodland Park, NJ, Berkeley College Woodland Park is a private for-profit institution. Berkeley College Woodland Park graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $28,320. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,184 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,068.
Essex County College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Newark, NJ, Essex County College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,415 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,523. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,915. Students borrow a median of $12,472 to complete a degree here.
Cumberland County College placed #16 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Cumberland County College is a public school based in Vineland, NJ. Students from in state pay about $5,160 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,274 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,236 to complete a degree here.
Saint Peters College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Jersey City, NJ, Saint Peters College is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Peters College graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $42,552. Saint Peters College graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,944. Saint Peters College students take on a median of $22,969 in debt.
Hudson County Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Hudson County Community College is a public school based in Jersey City, NJ. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,384, compared with $9,248 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,909 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $10,671.
Gloucester County College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Sewell, NJ. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,160, with out-of-state students paying around $6,000. Median early-career earnings reach $38,274. Students borrow a median of $13,236 to complete a degree here.
Sussex County Community College landed the #20 spot in New Jersey this year. This public school is set in Newton, NJ. Students from in state pay about $5,544 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,024. Sussex County Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $27,179. Students borrow a median of $10,750 to complete a degree here.
Atlantic Cape Community College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Mays Landing, NJ, Atlantic Cape Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,594, while out-of-state students pay about $8,350. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $37,141. Typical student debt is $12,002.
Passaic County Community College placed #22 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Located in Paterson, NJ, Passaic County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,300, compared with $10,560 for out-of-state students. Passaic County Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $28,957. Students borrow a median of $9,581 to complete a degree here.
Salem Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Based in Carneys Point, NJ, Salem Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,360, while out-of-state students pay about $10,260. Salem Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,781. The median student debt is $17,232.
Warren County Community College landed the #24 spot in New Jersey this year. Set in Washington, NJ, Warren County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,460, while out-of-state students pay about $6,360. Graduates go on to earn a median of $22,140 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $8,875 in student loans.
Eastern International College Jersey City did well this year, earning the #25 position. Eastern International College Jersey City is a private for-profit school based in Jersey City, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 6%. In-state tuition and fees run about $18,383. Median early-career earnings reach $53,998. Typical student debt is $28,914.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
