by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in New Jersey, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **26** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 26 colleges across over 20 objective factors 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:
No school ranked higher than Princeton University this year in New Jersey. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. Princeton University graduates 98% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Princeton University graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,532. The median student debt is $10,888.
A rank of #2 makes Rutgers University New Brunswick one of the top colleges in New Jersey. Based in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,402. Graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans.
The College Of New Jersey came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in New Jersey. Set in Ewing, NJ, The College Of New Jersey is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Students from in state pay about $19,632 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,752. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,617 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,429 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes Stevens Institute Of Technology one of the top colleges in New Jersey. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hoboken, NJ. About 87% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $63,462 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $87,055 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,767 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes Rutgers University Newark one of the top colleges in New Jersey. Located in Newark, NJ, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. Rutgers University Newark posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $17,250, compared with $36,762 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,296. Students borrow a median of $25,065 to complete a degree here.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Newark, NJ, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,974, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $71,549. New Jersey Institute Of Technology students take on a median of $24,755 in debt.
Rowan University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Glassboro, NJ. Rowan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,574, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,031 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,488 to complete a degree here.
Seton Hall University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit school based in South Orange, NJ. Seton Hall University posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $63,871. Graduates carry a median of $23,422 in student loans.
Ramapo College Of New Jersey came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Set in Mahwah, NJ, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,777 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,708. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,545 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,014 to complete a degree here.
Rutgers University Camden placed #10 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Set in Camden, NJ, Rutgers University Camden is a public institution. Rutgers University Camden graduates 67% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,764, while out-of-state students pay about $37,276. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,504. Typical student debt is $24,577.
Monmouth University placed #11 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Located in West Long Branch, NJ, Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit institution. Monmouth University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $46,552. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,709. Graduates carry a median of $26,847 in student loans.
Rider University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Lawrenceville, NJ, Rider University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $41,120 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,601. Rider University students take on a median of $26,241 in debt.
Montclair State University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Montclair, NJ, Montclair State University is a public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,369 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete a degree here.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey placed #14 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Set in Galloway, NJ, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $16,266, with out-of-state students paying around $24,524. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,490. Graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans.
Chamberlain University New Jersey ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private for-profit school is set in North Brunswick, NJ. Chamberlain University New Jersey graduates 33% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,520. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $83,188. Graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Located in Wayne, NJ, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a public institution. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates 44% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,704, compared with $25,344 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $46,981. The median student debt is $25,644.
Thomas Edison State College landed the #17 spot in New Jersey this year. Located in Trenton, NJ, Thomas Edison State College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,838, with out-of-state students paying around $8,856. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,792. Typical student debt is $16,149.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Teaneck, NJ. About 54% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $37,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,505 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,770 in student loans.
Drew University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Madison, NJ. About 70% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,100. Median early-career earnings reach $34,305. The median student debt is $26,449.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham placed #20 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Located in Madison, NJ, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,468. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,216. The median student debt is $24,701.
Centenary College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Hackettstown, NJ, Centenary College is a private not-for-profit institution. Centenary College posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,732. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,520 early in their careers. Centenary College students take on a median of $25,081 in debt.
Kean University placed #22 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Located in Union, NJ, Kean University is a public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,299, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $48,705. Students borrow a median of $26,703 to complete a degree here.
Georgian Court University landed the #23 spot in New Jersey this year. Based in Lakewood, NJ, Georgian Court University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,110. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,707. The median student debt is $24,752.
New Jersey City University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. New Jersey City University is a public school based in Jersey City, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,460. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,083 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,107.
College Of Saint Elizabeth placed #25 among the best colleges in New Jersey. This private not-for-profit school is set in Morristown, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Students from in state pay about $36,740 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,318 early in their careers. College Of Saint Elizabeth students take on a median of $25,496 in debt.
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.
