by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking for a college that has your back, you’ve come to the right place. This list highlights 103 schools ranked on how well they support veterans in New Jersey, using our 2026 methodology.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 103 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal fit depends on your goals and benefits. Refine the list by location, or explore our other rankings below.
Ready to build your own comparison? We built a tool called College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Learn more about these veteran-friendly colleges below:
Rutgers University-New Brunswick earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in New Jersey. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 88.8 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Out of the 103 colleges in New Jersey in this year's ranking, Rutgers University-Newark landed the #2 spot. It scores 86.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-resources score.
Veteran and military students will find strong support at Rutgers University-Camden, which ranked #3 this year. It scores 83.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
Out of the 103 colleges in New Jersey in this year's ranking, Ramapo College of New Jersey landed the #4 spot. It scores 82.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Rowan University came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges for Veterans ranking in New Jersey. The school's overall veterans score is 82.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 81.6 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 75.7, and veteran resources 66.7.
New Jersey Institute of Technology came in at #7 in this year's ranking. New Jersey Institute of Technology scores 80.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
The College of New Jersey ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The College of New Jersey scores 77.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
Kean University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 77.1 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Montclair State University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 76.4 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Monmouth University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 75.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 60.5, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
William Paterson University of New Jersey earned the #12 position in New Jersey. William Paterson University of New Jersey scores 75.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Middlesex College placed #13 among the best colleges for veterans in New Jersey. It scores 74.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Bergen Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. It scores 73.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Raritan Valley Community College earned the #15 position in New Jersey. The school's overall veterans score is 73.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Ocean County College earned the #16 position in New Jersey. The school's overall veterans score is 73.4 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Thomas Edison State University placed #17 among the best colleges for veterans in New Jersey. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 73.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-resources score.
DeVry University-New Jersey came in at #18 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 73.2 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
Princeton University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. The school's overall veterans score is 72.6 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 45.4, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Rider University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 71.7 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 69.7, and veteran resources 66.7.
Stockton University earned the #21 position in New Jersey. Stockton University scores 71.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Felician University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. Felician University scores 70.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On affordability for veterans it scores 71.7, alongside a 66.7 veteran-resources score.
Salem Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. On our overall veterans measure, it scores 69.4 out of 100. On affordability for veterans it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
Rowan College at Burlington County placed #24 among the best colleges for veterans in New Jersey. Rowan College at Burlington County scores 67.8 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Chamberlain University-New Jersey ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 67.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
These colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits, academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
