2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey
44
Colleges
$58,346
Avg Salary*
50%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
It's not easy to decide which college to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Top New Jersey Colleges ranking is part of that endeavor.
After analyzing 44 schools in New Jersey, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including post graduate earnings, freshman retention, and graduation rate. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
Get more details on our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location or field of study and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
We've created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you're torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another!
Top Colleges in New Jersey
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Princeton University to be the best school for overall quality in New Jersey in this year’s ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Princeton, New Jersey, and it awarded 2,075 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Princeton make an average of $95,689 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Princeton University Report
Out of the 44 schools in New Jersey that were part of this year’s ranking, Stevens Institute of Technology landed the #2 spot on the list. Stevens is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hoboken, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,862 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Stevens go into careers with an average salary of $98,159 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Stevens Institute of Technology
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges in New Jersey list means Rutgers University - New Brunswick is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This large public school is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and it awarded 13,381 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers New Brunswick is $65,661 during the early years of their career.
Read More…
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend New Jersey Institute of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey list. NJIT is a fairly large public school situated in Newark, New Jersey. It awarded 3,020 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from NJIT is $80,043 during the early years of their career.
Read More…
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The College of New Jersey. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey list. TCNJ is a public institution located in Ewing, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,212 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from TCNJ make an average of $65,481 per year during the early years of their career.
Read More…
Rutgers University - Newark ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Jersey list. Located in Newark, New Jersey, the fairly large public school awarded 3,915 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Rutgers Newark make an average of $65,661 a year.
Read full report on Rutgers University - Newark
Rowan University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Jersey list. Rowan University is a fairly large public school located in Glassboro, New Jersey that handed out 5,783 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Rowan make an average of $55,410 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Rowan University
Montclair State University landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. Located in Montclair, New Jersey, the large public school awarded 5,506 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,289 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Montclair State University
Thomas Edison State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Jersey list. TESU is located in Trenton, New Jersey and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,587 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from TESU make an average of $54,816 a year.
Read full report on Thomas Edison State University
Seton Hall University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #10. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in South Orange, New Jersey, and it awarded 3,108 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall is $68,441 during the early years of their career.
Read More…
Bergen Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Paramus, New Jersey, the fairly large public school handed out 2,319 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Bergen Community College make an average of $42,951 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Bergen Community College Report
Rider University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and it awarded 1,489 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Rider is $56,442 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Rider University
Monmouth University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #13. Located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,789 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Monmouth make an average of $59,513 a year.
Full Monmouth University Report
Stockton University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. Stockton State is a public institution located in Galloway, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,667 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Stockton State is $51,729 during the early years of their career.
Full Stockton University Report
Rutgers University - Camden came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. Located in Camden, New Jersey, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,995 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers Camden make an average of $65,661 per year during the early years of their career.
Read More…
With a ranking of #16, William Paterson University of New Jersey did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey list. William Paterson University is a medium-sized public school situated in Wayne, New Jersey. It awarded 2,216 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $51,506 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on William Paterson University of New Jersey
Felician University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. Felician is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lodi, New Jersey. It awarded 550 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Felician go into careers with an average salary of $54,650 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Felician University
Centenary University landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. Located in Hackettstown, New Jersey, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 508 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Centenary go into careers with an average salary of $51,404 during the early years of their career.
Read More…
With a ranking of #19, Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey list.Teaneck, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,490 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $55,994 during the early years of their career..
Full Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Report
Ramapo College of New Jersey ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges in New Jersey list. Ramapo College is located in Mahwah, New Jersey and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,533 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Ramapo College go into careers with an average salary of $60,019 during the early years of their career.
Full Ramapo College of New Jersey Report
Middlesex County College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. Middlesex County College is a medium-sized public school located in Edison, New Jersey that handed out 1,873 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,240 during the early years of their career..
Read More…
Kean University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #22. Kean is a fairly large public school situated in Union, New Jersey. It awarded 3,222 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,888 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Kean University
Essex County College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. Essex is a medium-sized public school situated in Newark, New Jersey. It awarded 1,082 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $34,122 during the early years of their career..
Full Essex County College Report
Rowan College at Burlington County came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. RCBC is a public institution located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,464 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from RCBC make an average of $40,708 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Rowan College at Burlington County Report
Union County College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in New Jersey ranking. Union County College is a medium-sized public school situated in Cranford, New Jersey. It awarded 1,760 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Union County College make an average of $38,163 per year during the early years of their career.
Read More…
college factual
