Best colleges in New Jersey
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in New Jersey36 schools
36 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.
- 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
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 98% graduate
- 2
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Value grade C+
- 87% graduate
- 3
- 4
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- 84% graduate
- 5
- 6
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 6% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 73% graduate
- 7
- 8
- 9
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- 69% graduate
- 10
DeVry University-New Jersey
Iselin, NJ · Private for-profitTop 19% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- 71% graduate
- 11
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · PublicTop 17% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- 70% graduate
- 12
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 67% graduate
- 13Tie
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- 72% graduate
- 13Tie
- 15
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- 64% graduate
- 16
- 17
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Value grade B-
- 57% graduate
- 18
- 19
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B-
- 67% graduate
- 20
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 65% graduate
- 21
Saint Peter's University
Jersey City, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 22% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- 58% graduate
- 22
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B
- 56% graduate
- 23
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 54% graduate
- 24
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Value grade B+ · Top 32%
- 53% graduate
- 25
Pillar College
Newark, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 11% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 38% graduate
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% |
| Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel | $10,016 | — | — | 91% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $24,406 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 84% |
| The College of New Jersey | $27,646 | $23,250 | $73,323 | 86% |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | $16,504 | $21,000 | $84,276 | 73% |
| Yeshiva Gedolah Keren Hatorah | $13,777 | — | — | 87% |
| Drew University | $24,280 | $25,288 | $63,646 | 70% |
| Seton Hall University | $31,446 | $22,750 | $70,196 | 69% |
| DeVry University-New Jersey | $26,565 | $24,807 | $45,987 | 71% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3