Best colleges for communications and journalism in New Jersey
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in communication, journalism, or a related field, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for communications and journalism in New Jersey23 schools
23 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in New Jersey.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in communication and journalism, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 2
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ · PublicTop 7% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 3
Drew University
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 4
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 5
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · PublicTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 6Tie
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 6Tie
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 8
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- 9
Stockton University
Galloway, NJ · PublicTop 23% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 10
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 11
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 12
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 13
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 14
Saint Peter's University
Jersey City, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 22% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 15
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B
- 16
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 17
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 18
Pillar College
Newark, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 11% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 19
Felician University
Lodi, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade C+
- 20
Kean University
Union, NJ · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade A- · Top 18%
- 21
Saint Elizabeth University
Morristown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
- 22
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B · Top 36%
- 23
Bloomfield College of Montclair State University
Bloomfield, NJ · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in communication and journalism
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $24,406 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 84% |
| The College of New Jersey | $27,646 | $23,250 | $73,323 | 86% |
| Drew University | $24,280 | $25,288 | $63,646 | 70% |
| Seton Hall University | $31,446 | $22,750 | $70,196 | 69% |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | $18,173 | $21,000 | $67,541 | 70% |
| Monmouth University | $30,988 | $27,000 | $67,991 | 72% |
| Rowan University | $22,408 | $20,500 | $59,988 | 67% |
| Rutgers University-Newark | $19,703 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 64% |
| Stockton University | $20,670 | $20,500 | $57,602 | 69% |
| Caldwell University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $53,843 | 57% |
| Rider University | $24,792 | $26,130 | $62,208 | 61% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | $22,829 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 67% |
| Montclair State University | $15,566 | $22,000 | $61,415 | 65% |
| Saint Peter's University | $12,199 | $20,500 | $57,815 | 58% |
| Centenary University | $20,503 | $23,163 | $53,726 | 56% |
| Georgian Court University | $19,285 | $21,816 | $53,096 | 54% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | $15,404 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 53% |
| Pillar College | $8,470 | $21,483 | $45,577 | 38% |
| Felician University | $40,045 | $25,000 | $57,602 | 47% |
| Kean University | $12,447 | $23,250 | $57,237 | 47% |
| Saint Elizabeth University | $23,125 | $24,934 | $53,038 | 51% |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | $18,745 | $22,334 | $57,780 | 44% |
| Bloomfield College of Montclair State University | $28,014 | $22,000 | $61,415 | 38% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 21
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 18
- California 70
- Colorado 13
- Connecticut 19
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 39
- Georgia 38
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 48
- Indiana 39
- Iowa 25
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 18
- Maine 6
- Maryland 18
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 36
- Minnesota 29
- Mississippi 14
- Missouri 38
- Montana 4
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 3
- New Hampshire 10
- New Mexico 4
- New York 82
- North Carolina 42
- North Dakota 8
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 17
- Pennsylvania 90
- Puerto Rico 12
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 6
- Tennessee 29
- Texas 64
- Utah 8
- Vermont 7
- Virginia 34
- Washington 19
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 27