by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in New Jersey, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **20** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 20 graduate schools 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Our analysis found Princeton University to be the best graduate school in New Jersey. Based in Princeton, NJ, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $67,532. The median student debt is $10,888.
Out of the 20 graduate schools in New Jersey in this year's ranking, Stevens Institute Of Technology landed the #2 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hoboken, NJ. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates 87% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $63,462 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $87,055. The median student debt is $26,767.
Out of the 20 graduate schools in New Jersey in this year's ranking, Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #3 spot. Set in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. 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.
A rank of #4 makes Rowan University one of the top graduate schools in New Jersey. Based in Glassboro, NJ, Rowan University is a public institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Rowan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,031. Students borrow a median of $24,488 to complete a degree here.
Rutgers University Newark came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in New Jersey. Based in Newark, NJ, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. Rutgers University Newark graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $17,250, compared with $36,762 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $54,296. The median student debt is $25,065.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. Located in Newark, NJ, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. In-state tuition and fees average $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,549 early in their careers. New Jersey Institute Of Technology students take on a median of $24,755 in debt.
Seton Hall University did well this year, earning the #7 position. Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit school based in South Orange, NJ. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,170. Median early-career earnings reach $63,871. Typical student debt is $23,422.
Rutgers University Camden ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Camden, NJ, Rutgers University Camden is a public institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,764, while out-of-state students pay about $37,276. 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 #9 spot in New Jersey this year. Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit school based in West Long Branch, NJ. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,552. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,709. Typical student debt is $26,847.
Montclair State University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Set 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, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,369 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,286.
Drew University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Madison, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $47,100. Drew University graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,305. Drew University students take on a median of $26,449 in debt.
Centenary College placed #12 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. Set in Hackettstown, NJ, Centenary College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,732. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,520. Graduates carry a median of $25,081 in student loans.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit school based in Teaneck, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,010. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,505 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,770.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Galloway, NJ, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $16,266 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,524. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,490. Graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey did well this year, earning the #15 position. This public school is set in Wayne, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,704, compared with $25,344 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,981 early in their careers. William Paterson University Of New Jersey students take on a median of $25,644 in debt.
Kean University landed the #16 spot in New Jersey this year. Based 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, while out-of-state students pay about $22,446. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,705. Graduates carry a median of $26,703 in student loans.
Saint Peters College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Saint Peters College is a private not-for-profit school based in Jersey City, NJ. About 58% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,552. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,944. Saint Peters College students take on a median of $22,969 in debt.
Thomas Edison State College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Trenton, NJ. 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.
New Jersey City University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. New Jersey City University is a public school based in Jersey City, NJ. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $14,460 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,083. The median student debt is $22,107.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham did well this year, earning the #20 position. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a private not-for-profit school based in Madison, NJ. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,468. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,216 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,701.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
