Best colleges for art and design in New Jersey
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in art or design, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for art and design in New Jersey26 schools
26 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in New Jersey.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in art or design, 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
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in New Jersey
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 2
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 3
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 4
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ · PublicTop 7% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 5
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 6% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 6
Drew University
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B
- 7
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 8
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · PublicTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 9
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 10Tie
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 10Tie
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 12
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- 13
Stockton University
Galloway, NJ · PublicTop 23% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 37%
- 14
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 15
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 16
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 17
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 18
Saint Peter's University
Jersey City, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 22% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 19
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B
- 20
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 21
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 22
Felician University
Lodi, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 23
Kean University
Union, NJ · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A- · Top 18%
- 24
Saint Elizabeth University
Morristown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 25
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 36%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton University | About $6,000 | $10,320 | $110,066 | 98% |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | About $41,000 | $27,000 | $108,772 | 87% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | About $24,000 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 84% |
| The College of New Jersey | About $28,000 | $23,250 | $73,323 | 86% |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | About $17,000 | $21,000 | $84,276 | 73% |
| Drew University | About $24,000 | $25,288 | $63,646 | 70% |
| Seton Hall University | About $31,000 | $22,750 | $70,196 | 69% |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | About $18,000 | $21,000 | $67,541 | 70% |
| Rutgers University-Camden | About $19,000 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 67% |
| Monmouth University | About $31,000 | $27,000 | $67,991 | 72% |
| Rowan University | About $22,000 | $20,500 | $59,988 | 67% |
| Rutgers University-Newark | About $20,000 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 64% |
| Stockton University | About $21,000 | $20,500 | $57,602 | 69% |
| Caldwell University | About $25,000 | $25,000 | $53,843 | 57% |
| Rider University | About $25,000 | $26,130 | $62,208 | 61% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | About $23,000 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 67% |
| Montclair State University | About $16,000 | $22,000 | $61,415 | 65% |
| Saint Peter's University | About $12,000 | $20,500 | $57,815 | 58% |
| Centenary University | About $21,000 | $23,163 | $53,726 | 56% |
| Georgian Court University | About $19,000 | $21,816 | $53,096 | 54% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | About $15,000 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 53% |
| Felician University | About $40,000 | $25,000 | $57,602 | 47% |
| Kean University | About $12,000 | $23,250 | $57,237 | 47% |
| Saint Elizabeth University | About $23,000 | $24,934 | $53,038 | 51% |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | About $19,000 | $22,334 | $57,780 | 44% |
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 19
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 17
- California 75
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 29
- Georgia 32
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 47
- Indiana 36
- Iowa 24
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 22
- Louisiana 16
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 44
- Michigan 30
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 7
- Missouri 32
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 15
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 8
- New Mexico 6
- New York 85
- North Carolina 39
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 15
- Oregon 14
- Pennsylvania 74
- Puerto Rico 17
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 27
- Texas 54
- Utah 8
- Vermont 8
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 11
- Wisconsin 29