Why This Matters
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58 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN NEW JERSEY
According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in New Jersey include 13 public and 45 private non-profit options.
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$15,443 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in New Jersey is $15,443, according to College Board.
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$15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID
In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.
Our Research
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in New Jersey. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The colleges on our list are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) — this organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of postsecondary education programs in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Online College Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Top 50 Colleges in New Jersey
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What You Should Know About Graduating From College in New Jersey
New Jersey’s thriving economy means graduates will have their pick of fulfilling careers. The five largest industries in New Jersey include office and administrative support occupations, transportation and material moving, sales, educational instruction and library occupations, and management.
For workers with bachelor’s degrees, the list of growing occupations in New Jersey is a diverse one. The number of positions for animal scientists, for example, is expected to increase by 100% by 2030. Other careers that should see rapid growth in the state include agents and talent managers, coaches and scouts, athletic trainers, and museum technicians and conservators.
Employers in New Jersey are looking for graduates from all disciplines. Some of New Jersey’s largest employers include the research department of the New Jersey Medical School, United Airlines, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Resorts Casino Hotel, and Princeton University.
What’s Next?
Many students turn to financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans to help pay for college. If you’re considering calling one of New Jersey’s universities home for the next four years, you need to know what aid the state provides:
- New Jersey’s Higher Education State Assistance Authority (HESAA). HESAA helps direct students to grants and scholarships they may be eligible for and breaks down filing deadlines. It also provides students with the New Jersey Financial Aid Management System (NJFAMS).
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.