by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in New Jersey, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks 119 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 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.
Your ideal graduate school depends on your goals. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 graduate school in New Jersey. This private not-for-profit school is set in Princeton, NJ. Princeton University posts a six-year graduation rate of 98%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Princeton University graduates report median early-career earnings of $67,532. Typical student debt is $10,888.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #2 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in New Jersey. Set in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates 84% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,402. The median student debt is $25,120.
A rank of #3 makes Stevens Institute Of Technology one of the top graduate schools in New Jersey. Set in Hoboken, NJ, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $63,462. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $87,055. Typical student debt is $26,767.
A rank of #4 makes The College Of New Jersey one of the top graduate schools in New Jersey. Based in Ewing, NJ, The College Of New Jersey is a public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,632, 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.
Out of the 119 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. About 64% of students finish within six years. 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 placed #6 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. This public school is set in Newark, NJ. About 73% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $71,549. The median student debt is $24,755.
Rowan University landed the #7 spot in New Jersey this year. Set in Glassboro, NJ, Rowan University is a public institution. 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,031. Graduates carry a median of $24,488 in student loans.
Seton Hall University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in South Orange, NJ, Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $53,170. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,871. Typical student debt is $23,422.
Ramapo College Of New Jersey ranked #9 on our 2026 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,777, compared with $27,708 for out-of-state students. Ramapo College Of New Jersey graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,545. Students borrow a median of $24,014 to complete a degree here.
Rutgers University Camden came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in Camden, NJ, Rutgers University Camden is a public institution. Rutgers University Camden graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $17,764, compared with $37,276 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,504. Graduates carry a median of $24,577 in student loans.
Monmouth University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in West Long Branch, NJ, Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Students from in state pay about $46,552 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,709 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,847 in student loans.
Rider University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. Set in Lawrenceville, NJ, Rider University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,120. Median early-career earnings reach $48,601. Rider University students take on a median of $26,241 in debt.
Montclair State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Montclair, NJ. Montclair State University graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,369. The median student debt is $25,286.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Galloway, NJ, The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete a degree here.
Chamberlain University New Jersey placed #15 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. Based in North Brunswick, NJ, Chamberlain University New Jersey is a private for-profit institution. Chamberlain University New Jersey posts a six-year graduation rate of 33%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,520. Median early-career earnings reach $83,188. Chamberlain University New Jersey students take on a median of $39,146 in debt.
William Paterson University Of New Jersey placed #16 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. This public school is set in Wayne, NJ. About 44% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,704, while out-of-state students pay about $25,344. William Paterson University Of New Jersey graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,981. Students borrow a median of $25,644 to complete a degree here.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus placed #17 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,505. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus students take on a median of $24,770 in debt.
Drew University landed the #18 spot in New Jersey this year. Set in Madison, NJ, Drew University is a private not-for-profit institution. Drew University graduates 70% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $47,100 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $34,305 early in their careers. Drew University students take on a median of $26,449 in debt.
Thomas Edison State College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Set in Trenton, NJ, Thomas Edison State College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,838, with out-of-state students paying around $8,856. Median early-career earnings reach $70,792. Thomas Edison State College students take on a median of $16,149 in debt.
Centenary College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Centenary College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hackettstown, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,732. Median early-career earnings reach $46,520. Students borrow a median of $25,081 to complete a degree here.
Princeton Theological Seminary placed #21 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. Based in Princeton, NJ, Princeton Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,821 early in their careers.
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Madison, NJ, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $37,468. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,216. Students borrow a median of $24,701 to complete a degree here.
Kean University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Kean University is a public school based in Union, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,299, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Median early-career earnings reach $48,705. The median student debt is $26,703.
College Of Saint Elizabeth placed #24 among the best graduate schools in New Jersey. This private not-for-profit school is set in Morristown, NJ. College Of Saint Elizabeth posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. In-state tuition and fees average $36,740. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,318 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,496.
Georgian Court University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Georgian Court University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lakewood, NJ. Georgian Court University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,110. Georgian Court University graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,707. Students borrow a median of $24,752 to complete a degree here.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
