Best colleges for music in New Jersey
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in music, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for music in New Jersey18 schools
18 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 music, 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 music
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 2
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade C+
- 3
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 4
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ · PublicTop 7% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 5
Drew University
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B
- 6
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 7
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · PublicTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 8
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 9Tie
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 9Tie
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- 11
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- 12
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 13
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 14
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 15
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 16
Kean University
Union, NJ · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade A- · Top 18%
- 17
Saint Elizabeth University
Morristown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B-
- 18
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in music
- Value grade B · Top 36%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton University | $6,128 | $10,320 | $110,066 | 98% |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | $41,346 | $27,000 | $108,772 | 87% |
| 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% |
| Rutgers University-Camden | $18,745 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 67% |
| 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% |
| Caldwell University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $53,843 | 57% |
| Rider University | $24,792 | $26,130 | $62,208 | 61% |
| Montclair State University | $15,566 | $22,000 | $61,415 | 65% |
| Georgian Court University | $19,285 | $21,816 | $53,096 | 54% |
| 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% |
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
- Arizona 5
- Arkansas 19
- California 70
- Colorado 17
- Connecticut 18
- District of Columbia 6
- Florida 29
- Georgia 33
- Hawaii 3
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 46
- Indiana 29
- Iowa 25
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 20
- Louisiana 17
- Maine 6
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 28
- Minnesota 27
- Mississippi 14
- Missouri 30
- Montana 4
- Nebraska 13
- New Hampshire 6
- New Mexico 4
- New York 59
- North Carolina 44
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 48
- Oklahoma 20
- Oregon 17
- Pennsylvania 51
- Puerto Rico 6
- Rhode Island 6
- South Carolina 22
- South Dakota 7
- Tennessee 35
- Texas 56
- Utah 8
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 34
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 8
- Wisconsin 25