10 Best Colleges in New Jersey
Colleges in New Jersey offer strong programs for learners across New Jersey as well as nearby states like New York and Pennsylvania. Graduates of world-renowned schools in the area like Princeton University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology may gain an advantage over competitors in the job marketplace.
The best colleges in New Jersey emphasize fields like business, nursing, and technology, all of which are key sectors in New Jersey’s local workforce. Numerous global corporations and Fortune 500 companies also maintain headquarters in New Jersey.
Read on to explore the best colleges in New Jersey and fit the best fit for your learning needs and career goals.
Why Study in New Jersey?
New Jersey houses some of the most prestigious research, tech, and liberal arts colleges in the United States. Princeton University, for example, is located in its namesake city of Princeton, New Jersey. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, enrolls the largest number of students in the state and ranks among the nation’s largest colleges.
While the cost of living in some areas of New Jersey is higher than the national average, the state offers more affordable housing options than New York City. Many students choose to live here and attend colleges in New Jersey rather than commute to New York or Pennsylvania.
Graduates of colleges in New Jersey can choose from diverse occupations. New Jersey’s largest employers include Rutgers University, United Airlines, and Johnson & Johnson. The state boasts 17 Fortune 500 companies, including Prudential Financial, Merck, and ADP.
The Garden State offers dozens of state parks, beaches, and outdoor recreation activities. Students may enjoy visiting the impressive university art museums at Rutgers and Princeton. Colleges in New Jersey also offer easy access to nearby New York City and Philadelphia through the NJ TRANSIT system.
Top Degree Programs in New Jersey
New Jersey Employment Outlook
The best colleges in New Jersey prepare students for jobs in multiple industries. New Jersey employs the most workers in office and administrative support, transportation, and sales occupations, respectively, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The average annual salary for those employed in New Jersey was $59,980 in 2019, according to the BLS, which is higher than the average annual salary of $53,490 across the U.S. The highest earners in the state include surgeons, obstetricians, and chief executives.
Popular Career Paths in New Jersey
- Political Science
- Business Administration
- Healthcare Administration
- Public Policy
- History
- Philosophy
- Biology
- Sports Medicine
- Mechanical Engineering
Best Accredited Colleges in New Jersey
- In-State$57,410
- Out-of-state$57,410
- In-State$57,410
- Out-of-state$57,410
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate4%
- Students Enrolled8,922
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment81%
- AccreditationYes
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$13,674
- Out-of-state$32,436
- In-State$18,696
- Out-of-state$31,800
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate65%
- Students Enrolled50,617
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$56,424
- Out-of-state$56,424
- In-State$39,408
- Out-of-state$39,408
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate43%
- Students Enrolled8,842
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment52%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$14,706
- Out-of-state$20,590
- In-State$15,548
- Out-of-state$15,548
- Retention Rate89%
- Acceptance Rate62%
- Students Enrolled7,652
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment37%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$15,978
- Out-of-state$26,388
- In-State$19,657
- Out-of-state$19,657
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate73%
- Students Enrolled5,521
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment20%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$15,616
- Out-of-state$32,528
- In-State$21,932
- Out-of-state$32,426
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate67%
- Students Enrolled13,007
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment25%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$13,674
- Out-of-state$32,436
- In-State$18,696
- Out-of-state$31,800
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate79%
- Students Enrolled10,809
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment32%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$12,755
- Out-of-state$21,465
- In-State$13,740
- Out-of-state$13,740
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled22,570
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment54%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$12,740
- Out-of-state$20,474
- In-State$14,346
- Out-of-state$20,916
- Retention Rate78%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled9,080
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment50%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$11,250
- Out-of-state$21,114
- In-State$13,695
- Out-of-state$13,695
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate78%
- Students Enrolled19,738
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2021. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
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