by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in New Jersey, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **33** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 33 graduate schools 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 graduate school in New Jersey. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. Princeton University posts a six-year graduation rate of 98%. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,688. Median early-career earnings reach $67,532. Typical student debt is $10,888.
A rank of #2 makes Stevens Institute Of Technology one of the top graduate schools in New Jersey. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hoboken, NJ. Stevens Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 87%. In-state tuition and fees run about $63,462. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $87,055. Typical student debt is $26,767.
The strong outcomes at Rutgers University New Brunswick earned it the #3 place in New Jersey. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public school based in New Brunswick, NJ. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,402. Graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned it the #4 place in New Jersey. Based in Newark, NJ, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a public institution. New Jersey Institute Of Technology graduates 73% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Early-career graduates earn a median of $71,549. Typical student debt is $24,755.
Out of the 33 graduate schools in New Jersey in this year's ranking, Rutgers University Newark landed the #5 spot. Located in Newark, NJ, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. Rutgers University Newark posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,250, compared with $36,762 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,296 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,065 to complete a degree here.
The College Of New Jersey placed #6 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. 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.
Seton Hall University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based 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. Students from in state pay about $53,170 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $63,871. Typical student debt is $23,422.
Rowan University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Glassboro, NJ. Rowan University graduates 67% of students within six years. 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.
Rutgers University Camden came in at #9 in this year's ranking. 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, compared with $37,276 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,504. The median student debt is $24,577.
Montclair State University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Montclair, NJ, Montclair State University is a public institution. Montclair State University graduates 65% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Montclair State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,369. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete a degree here.
Rider University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lawrenceville, NJ. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,120. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,601. Graduates carry a median of $26,241 in student loans.
Monmouth University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Set in West Long Branch, NJ, Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $46,552. Monmouth University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,709. The median student debt is $26,847.
Ramapo College Of New Jersey ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Mahwah, NJ, Ramapo College Of New Jersey is a public institution. Ramapo College Of New Jersey graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,777, with out-of-state students paying around $27,708. Median early-career earnings reach $48,545. The median student debt is $24,014.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey landed the #14 spot in New Jersey this year. William Paterson University Of New Jersey is a public school based in Wayne, NJ. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $15,704 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,344 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $46,981. The median student debt is $25,644.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Teaneck, NJ, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $37,010. Median early-career earnings reach $54,505. Graduates carry a median of $24,770 in student loans.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a private not-for-profit school based in Madison, NJ. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,468. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,216. The median student debt is $24,701.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey came in at #17 in this year's ranking. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,490 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans.
Princeton Theological Seminary ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Princeton, NJ, Princeton Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $46,821.
Drew University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Drew University is a private not-for-profit school based in Madison, NJ. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,100. Median early-career earnings reach $34,305. Students borrow a median of $26,449 to complete a degree here.
Centenary College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Centenary College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hackettstown, NJ. Centenary College graduates 55% of students within six years. 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. Centenary College students take on a median of $25,081 in debt.
Saint Peters College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Based in Jersey City, NJ, Saint Peters College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,552. Saint Peters College graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,944. Students borrow a median of $22,969 to complete a degree here.
College Of Saint Elizabeth did well this year, earning the #22 position. College Of Saint Elizabeth is a private not-for-profit school based in Morristown, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,740. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,318 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,496.
Thomas Edison State College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Trenton, NJ, Thomas Edison State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,838, with out-of-state students paying around $8,856. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,792. Graduates carry a median of $16,149 in student loans.
Felician College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Felician College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lodi, NJ. About 47% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,300. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $28,500.
Georgian Court University came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Based in Lakewood, NJ, Georgian Court University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $37,110. Median early-career earnings reach $54,707. Students borrow a median of $24,752 to complete a degree here.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
