Why This Matters

  • THERE ARE 35 ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY

    New Jersey has 35 community college associate degree programs for you to choose from, according to data from College Navigator.

  • NEW JERSEY IN-DISTRICT STUDENTS PAID $5,430 IN TUITION

    An average of $5,430 in tuition was paid by in-district New Jersey community college students for the 2020-21 school year.

  • 76.9% OF U.S. COLLEGE STUDENTS RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID

    According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 437,899 U.S. college students — or 76.9% — were awarded some form of financial aid for the 2018-19 academic year.

Our Research

To create a comprehensive list of the learning opportunities and job training available in New Jersey, we reviewed private and public community colleges as well as trade, technical, and vocational programs. We ranked them on criteria including tuition costs and credits needed to graduate.

We only included higher learning institutions that have been accredited to ensure their quality. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) is a regional organization that accredits colleges based on multiple factors. This organization also advocates for students and higher learning institutions. Another accreditor that appears on our list of the best community colleges is the New Jersey Commission for Higher Education (NJCHE), a government agency that licenses and regulates educational institutions throughout the state.

  • 32hours to write this article
  • 52universities and colleges we assessed
  • 61education programs we compared

The Top 50 Community Colleges in New Jersey

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What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in New Jersey

When researching community college programs in New Jersey, you may want to look at some of the highest-paying career fields for associate degree graduates. Air traffic controllers and radiation therapists can earn upwards of $100,000 per year, with dental hygienists and nuclear medicine technologists close behind. Web developers are also on the list of highest earners.

Jobs with the highest number of projected openings is another factor to consider. Preschool teachers are needed in New Jersey, along with paralegals and legal assistants. There are also plenty of openings for human resources assistants and computer network support specialists.

Declining employment is another helpful statistic to know. New Jersey broadcast technicians are in decline, as are desktop publishers. Even though there is currently a high number of openings for human resources assistants, it’s one of the career fields with a fast decline rate.

What’s Next?

Part of your research of New Jersey community colleges should include financial aid. Below, we’ve listed some of the best state and federal online resources with information about financial assistance for two-year programs.

  • New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). Prospective students can find plenty of information about paying for college at the HESAA website. This resource helps students plan for their education and contains links to financial aid programs.
  • Federal Student Aid. Billions in financial aid are awarded by the U.S. Department of Education each year. Apply for scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs by first completing the online FAFSA. If you have questions about eligibility, head over to the FAFSA4caster to learn more.
  • CareerOneStop. The Bureau of Labor Statistics sponsors this resource, where you’ll find information about fellowships, scholarships, and grants. The data can be filtered by your state of residence and the degree level you’re searching for to narrow down the thousands of options.