Best Colleges in New Jersey 2026

New Jersey's top colleges demonstrate the state's strong commitment to both research excellence and undergraduate education. Our ranking of 34 qualifying institutions reveals a balanced mix, with Princeton University leading a group that includes three public universities among the top five schools. The strongest programs combine rigorous academics with solid career outcomes and manageable debt levels. When evaluating New Jersey colleges, students should prioritize factors like faculty-to-student ratios, graduation rates, and post-graduation employment statistics. The state's proximity to major metropolitan areas like New York and Philadelphia provides additional internship and job opportunities. Both public and private options offer distinct advantages, from TCNJ's focused liberal arts approach to NJIT's specialized technology programs.

Schools Ranked

$62,247

Avg. Earnings

65.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey	97.1%	$110,066	5.7%	$59,710
2	Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, New Jersey	89.9%	$108,772	46.2%	$60,952
3	Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, New Jersey	85.0%	$74,479	66.3%	$17,239
4	The College of New Jersey Ewing, New Jersey	85.2%	$73,323	64.4%	$18,685
5	New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, New Jersey	73.1%	$84,276	66.0%	$19,022
6	Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah, New Jersey	71.9%	$67,541	70.5%	$15,978
7	Rutgers University-Newark Newark, New Jersey	67.6%	$74,479	73.9%	$16,586
8	Rutgers University-Camden Camden, New Jersey	66.4%	$74,479	76.5%	$17,079
9	Eastwick College-Ramsey Ramsey, New Jersey	63.6%	$51,725		$17,028
10	Assumption College for Sisters Denville, New Jersey	100.0%			$5,773
11	Rowan University Glassboro, New Jersey	68.3%	$59,988	76.9%	$15,700
12	Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel Lakewood, New Jersey	88.2%		29.3%	$9,400
13	Eastwick College-Nutley Nutley, New Jersey	63.9%	$42,827		$14,846
14	Stockton University Galloway, New Jersey	72.0%	$57,602	85.5%	$15,532
15	Warren County Community College Washington, New Jersey	47.7%	$43,359		$5,310
16	Sussex County Community College Newton, New Jersey	44.3%	$44,664		$5,544
17	Montclair State University Montclair, New Jersey	64.3%	$61,415	91.3%	$14,766
18	Seminary Bnos Chaim Lakewood, New Jersey	93.8%		47.9%	$12,600
19	Ocean County College Toms River, New Jersey	39.1%	$45,210		$4,690
20	County College of Morris Randolph, New Jersey	35.3%	$50,243		$6,210
21	Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg, New Jersey	35.3%	$48,145		$5,520
22	Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel, New Jersey	37.9%	$44,745		$4,968
23	Middlesex College Edison, New Jersey	34.5%	$46,861		$4,524
24	Drew University Madison, New Jersey	72.4%	$63,646	72.7%	$45,360
25	UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ Cranford, New Jersey	34.8%	$41,595		$5,280