Best Online Colleges in New Jersey
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New Jersey is home to dozens of colleges and universities, most of which are strategically located near major metropolitan centers like New York. And with many of these New Jersey colleges offering online programs, you can tap into an exceptional education regardless of your location.
Whether you’re looking to enroll in a bachelor’s or master’s program, or are interested in earning your associate degree at an online community college, there are many online colleges in New Jersey you can choose from.
Keep reading to learn about some of the top online colleges in the Garden State.
Featured Online Bachelor’s Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Colleges in New Jersey
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$12,900
- Out-of-state$30,600
- In-State$18,696
- Out-of-state$31,800
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate66%
- Students Enrolled51,054
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment74%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$10,714
- Out-of-state$20,108
- In-State$13,695
- Out-of-state$13,695
- Retention Rate84%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled19,568
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment51%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$35,000
- Out-of-state$35,000
- In-State$19,599
- Out-of-state$19,599
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate84%
- Students Enrolled4,051
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment21%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$37,660
- Out-of-state$37,660
- In-State$21,186
- Out-of-state$21,186
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate93%
- Students Enrolled3,009
- Institution TypePrivate
- 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 want to help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.
Our rankings are grounded in a few guiding principles and use the latest statistical data available from trusted sources. Read our ranking methodology. We hope our approach helps you find the school that is best for you.
Cost of College in New Jersey
While tuition costs will vary depending on where you attend and your residency status, the average tuition costs in New Jersey were a bit more than the national average tuition costs in 2021-2022.
For in-state students at public universities, the national average tuition cost was $9,596, while New Jersey’s average was $14,861. For out-of-state students, the national average public university tuition was $27,457, and the New Jersey average was $29,681.
| Institution Type | Average Tuition & Required Fees |
|---|---|
| Public Four-Year (In-State) | $14,184 |
| Public Four-Year (Out-of-State) | $29,681 |
| Private Four-Year | $39,094 |
| Public Two-Year (In-State) | $4,919 |
| Public Two-Year (Out-of-State) | $8,148 |
10 Fast-Growing Jobs in New Jersey
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a wide variety of careers in New Jersey are projected to grow significantly by 2032.
Nurse practitioner jobs are projected to grow an astounding 38% between 2022 and 2032, and offer substantial six-figure salaries. Jobs within the sciences and technology are also projected to grow, with roles for data scientists, information security analysts, statisticians, and web developers all ranking high.
If you’re interested in pursuing one of these fast-growing careers, consider choosing an online college in NJ that offers a relevant degree.
Note: Wages with an asterisk symbol in the table below denote average wage data.
| Job | Job Growth 2021-2031 | Median U.S. Annual Wage 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | 38% | $121,610 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, And Ticket Takers | 40.5% | $26,390* |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 36.6% | $36,060* |
| Data Scientists | 35.8% | $119,040* |
| Athletes And Sports Competitors | 35.7% | $94,270 |
| Information Security Analysts | 34.7% | $112,000 |
| Statisticians | 32.7% | $109,190* |
| Web Developers | 30.3% | $95,570* |
| Animal Caretakers | 29.9% | $33,530* |
| Choreographers | 29.7% | $59,090* |
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges in New Jersey
Kean University and William Paterson University of New Jersey are some of the most affordable online colleges in New Jersey, with a student population of at least 1,000. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Kean University’s in-state tuition fee was $13,426 for the 2023-2024 school year.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed April 9, 2024.
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