by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in New Jersey, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Our ranking highlights **45** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 45 colleges using more than 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.
Your ideal college depends on your goals. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Ready to build your own comparison? We built a tool called College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 college in New Jersey. Located in Princeton, NJ, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 98% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. The median student debt is $10,888.
Out of the 45 colleges in New Jersey in this year's ranking, Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #2 spot. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public school based in New Brunswick, NJ. About 84% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,402 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete a degree here.
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in New Jersey. Set in Hoboken, NJ, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,462. Graduates go on to earn a median of $87,055 early in their careers. Stevens Institute Of Technology students take on a median of $26,767 in debt.
You'll be in good company at The College Of New Jersey, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Ewing, NJ, The College Of New Jersey is a public institution. The College Of New Jersey graduates 86% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,632, compared with $25,752 for out-of-state students. 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.
The strong outcomes at Rutgers University Newark earned it the #5 place in New Jersey. This public school is set in Newark, NJ. Rutgers University Newark graduates 64% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,762. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,296. Typical student debt is $25,065.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best colleges in New Jersey. This public school is set in Newark, NJ. New Jersey Institute Of Technology graduates 73% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,974, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. 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 placed #7 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Based in Glassboro, NJ, Rowan University is a public institution. Rowan University graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,031 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,488.
Seton Hall University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in South Orange, NJ, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. Seton Hall University graduates report median early-career earnings of $63,871. Typical student debt is $23,422.
Ramapo College Of New Jersey ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Mahwah, NJ. 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,545. The median student debt is $24,014.
Rutgers University Camden did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Camden, NJ, Rutgers University Camden is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,764, compared with $37,276 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,504. Students borrow a median of $24,577 to complete a degree here.
Monmouth University landed the #11 spot in New Jersey this year. Set in West Long Branch, NJ, Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,552. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,709. Graduates carry a median of $26,847 in student loans.
Rider University landed the #12 spot in New Jersey this year. Based in Lawrenceville, NJ, Rider University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rider University graduates 61% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $41,120 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,601. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete a degree here.
Montclair State University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Montclair, NJ, Montclair State University is a public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $15,912, with out-of-state students paying around $26,022. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,369. Graduates carry a median of $25,286 in student loans.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based in Galloway, NJ, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a public institution. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,266, while out-of-state students pay about $24,524. Median early-career earnings reach $43,490. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey students take on a median of $24,990 in debt.
Chamberlain University New Jersey did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private for-profit school is set in North Brunswick, NJ. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,520. Chamberlain University New Jersey graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,188. Graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Wayne, NJ, William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a public institution. William Paterson University Of New Jersey posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,704, while out-of-state students pay about $25,344. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,981. William Paterson University Of New Jersey students take on a median of $25,644 in debt.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus came in at #17 in this year's ranking. 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. In-state tuition and fees average $37,010. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,505. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus students take on a median of $24,770 in debt.
Drew University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Madison, NJ. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $47,100. Early-career graduates earn a median of $34,305. Typical student debt is $26,449.
Thomas Edison State College placed #19 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Based in Trenton, NJ, Thomas Edison State College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,838, compared with $8,856 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $70,792. Graduates carry a median of $16,149 in student loans.
Centenary College placed #20 among the best colleges in New Jersey. Set in Hackettstown, NJ, Centenary College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Students from in state pay about $37,732 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,520 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,081.
Princeton Theological Seminary came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Princeton Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. Princeton Theological Seminary graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,821.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Set in Madison, NJ, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,468. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,216. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham students take on a median of $24,701 in debt.
Kean University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Union, NJ. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $14,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Kean University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,705. Graduates carry a median of $26,703 in student loans.
College Of Saint Elizabeth did well this year, earning the #24 position. College Of Saint Elizabeth is a private not-for-profit school based in Morristown, NJ. College Of Saint Elizabeth posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,740. College Of Saint Elizabeth graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,318. Graduates carry a median of $25,496 in student loans.
Georgian Court University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lakewood, NJ. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,110. Georgian Court University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,707. Georgian Court University students take on a median of $24,752 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.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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.
