Best colleges in New Jersey

Higher Education Along the Jersey Shore

Small in size but big in college education

New Jersey is home to 66 higher education institutions, including research universities, 8 state colleges, and 14 private schools. Home to one prestigious Ivy League school, New Jersey was the first to open a university prior to the American Revolution. This is where the serious students go, as there is a wide array of technological and medical schools, along with a lot of regal history rooted in New Jersey education. Popular majors include science, technology, elementary education, and business administration. Graduates go on to work at great corporations like Atlantic Aircraft, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Buy Buy Baby, and Mutual Benefit Life Insurance.

There are plenty of ways to kick up your heels on the weekends in New Jersey. With cherry blossoms, lakes, and a multitude of beaches to enjoy, New Jersey is home to popular hot spots like Atlantic City and Asbury Park. Take a jaunt on a few campuses for some amazing history, and stop in at one of many award-winning wineries. Be sure to stop by the Cloverleaf Tavern in Caldwell or the Copper Mine Pub in North Arlington for great drinks and plenty of company. New Jersey is always guaranteed to deliver on great times and great education. www.nj.gov Wikipedia, "Companies_based_in_New Jersey" http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/new-jerseys-5-best-craft-beer-bars/

Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*www.nj.gov *Wikipedia, “Companies_based_in_New Jersey” *http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/new-jerseys-5-best-craft-beer-bars/

Best Four Year Universities in New Jersey

Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
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Princeton University is a private university founded in 1746 in the suburban college town of Princeton, New Jersey. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of just over 5,000 students who attend classes on a 600-acre campus. Princeton is one of the “Big Three” Ivy League institutions and conducts classes on a semester-based academic calendar with tuition and fees for students totaling over $52,000.

Princeton is known for its unique residential living system that groups students into what has been colloquially called “eating clubs,” or dorms that have a central kitchen for the residents to frequent as a collective. There are also over 500 student groups and clubs including a university radio station, student-run newspaper, and a storied Princeton Tiger’s athletic program. 

Princeton has a rich academic network and has graduated Supreme Court Justices, Fortune 500 billionaires, and multiple Secretaries of Defense. The university boasts a massive $26 billion-dollar endowment that translates to a $2 billion annual budget that sustains this globally recognized and affluent center for learning. Notable alumni include Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, former President James Madison, and former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama.

Stevens Institute of Technology offers 155 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 2,526 students graduated with students earning 1,274 Master's degrees, 923 Bachelor's degrees, 262 Certificates, and 67 Doctoral degrees.

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Rutgers University is a public land-grant research university founded in 1766, with a current undergraduate enrollment of roughly 35,000. The university is the second-oldest institution of higher education in New Jersey and, with campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden, is the largest university in the state. Rutgers’ tuition and fees for in-state students are less than half the cost of those for out-of-state students, making it an affordable option for NJ residents. 

Rutgers has a variety of extracurricular opportunities for students including a study abroad office that offers programs in over 50 different countries. Beyond academics, Rutgers’ Scarlet Knights athletic teams compete in the BIG10, and enjoys a local football rivalry with Princeton. Rutgers University is made up of 175 academic departments including competitive medical, dental, and English programs. 

The main university campus is in a suburban setting and sprawls over 2,500 acres. Classes follow a semester-based academic calendar and the current student-faculty ratio at Rutgers is 16:1, which is low for a large state institution. Rutgers students get to enjoy a vibrant food and bar scene in New Brunswick and are only a train ride away from both New York City and Philadelphia. Notable alumni include U.S. Women’s National Team player Carli Lloyd, actor James Gandolfini, and American economist, Milton Friedman

New Jersey Institute of Technology offers 136 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 2,779 students graduated with students earning 1,857 Bachelor's degrees, 731 Master's degrees, 99 Doctoral degrees, and 92 Certificates.

The College of New Jersey offers 92 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 2,222 students graduated with students earning 1,721 Bachelor's degrees, 389 Master's degrees, and 112 Certificates.

Drew University
Madison, NJ

Drew University offers 75 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 541 students graduated with students earning 373 Bachelor's degrees, 98 Master's degrees, 62 Doctoral degrees, and 8 Certificates.

Rutgers University-Newark offers 106 degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 3,709 students graduated with students earning 2,348 Bachelor's degrees, 1,067 Master's degrees, and 294 Doctoral degrees.

Ramapo College of New Jersey offers 66 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,463 students graduated with students earning 1,156 Bachelor's degrees, and 307 Master's degrees.

Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ

Seton Hall University offers 126 degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 2,527 students graduated with students earning 1,291 Bachelor's degrees, 874 Master's degrees, 302 Doctoral degrees, and 60 Certificates.

Rutgers University-Camden offers 83 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 2,015 students graduated with students earning 1,512 Bachelor's degrees, 334 Master's degrees, and 169 Doctoral degrees.

Best Community Colleges in New Jersey

Seminary Bnos Chaim
Lakewood, NJ

Seminary Bnos Chaim offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a small city. In 2022, 25 students graduated with students earning 25 Associate's degrees.

Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 33 students graduated with students earning 33 Associate's degrees.

Assumption College for Sisters offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 13 students graduated with students earning 7 Associate's degrees, and 6 Certificates.

Yeshiva Gedolah Keren Hatorah offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 31 students graduated with students earning 31 Associate's degrees.

Eastwick College-Nutley offers 13 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 187 students graduated with students earning 120 Associate's degrees, and 67 Certificates.

Eastwick College-Hackensack offers 16 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 308 students graduated with students earning 216 Associate's degrees, and 92 Certificates.

Jersey College
Teterboro, NJ

Jersey College offers 2 degree programs. It's a small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 902 students graduated with students earning 646 Associate's degrees, and 256 Certificates.

Salem Community College
Carneys Point, NJ

Salem Community College offers 40 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 236 students graduated with students earning 207 Associate's degrees, and 29 Certificates.

Union County College
Cranford, NJ

Union County College offers 68 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,582 students graduated with students earning 1,519 Associate's degrees, and 63 Certificates.

County College of Morris offers 62 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 1,105 students graduated with students earning 1,097 Associate's degrees, and 8 Certificates.

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List of all colleges in New Jersey

School Average Tuition Student Teacher Ratio Enrolled Students
Princeton University Logo Princeton University Princeton, NJ
5/5
9 : 1 8,842
Stevens Institute of Technology Logo Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ
5/5
28 : 1 9,314
Rutgers University-New Brunswick Logo Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ
4/5
22 : 1 50,637
New Jersey Institute of Technology Logo New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ
4/5
25 : 1 12,332
The College of New Jersey Logo The College of New Jersey Ewing, NJ
4/5
21 : 1 7,629