Best test-optional colleges in New Jersey
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in New Jersey33 schools
33 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.
- Admission test policy: considered but not required, or neither required nor recommended (federal admissions data).
- 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
- SAT or ACT not required
- 98% graduate
- 2
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 87% graduate
- 3
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 4% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 91% graduate
- 4
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- SAT or ACT not required
- 84% graduate
- 5
- 6
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 6% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 73% graduate
- 7
Yeshiva Gedolah Keren Hatorah
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 6% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 87% graduate
- 8
Drew University
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 70% graduate
- 9
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 69% graduate
- 10
DeVry University-New Jersey
Iselin, NJ · Private for-profitTop 19% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 11
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · PublicTop 17% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 70% graduate
- 12
- 13Tie
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 13Tie
- 15
- 16
- 17
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 57% graduate
- 18
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 61% graduate
- 19
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 67% graduate
- 20
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 65% graduate
- 21
Saint Peter's University
Jersey City, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 22% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 58% graduate
- 22
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 56% graduate
- 23
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 54% graduate
- 24
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- SAT or ACT not required
- 53% graduate
- 25
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% |
| Kean University | $12,447 | $23,250 | $57,237 | 47% |
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 23
- Arizona 12
- Arkansas 10
- California 100
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 18
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 35
- Georgia 42
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 56
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 29
- Kansas 24
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 21
- Maine 15
- Maryland 25
- Massachusetts 59
- Michigan 40
- Minnesota 35
- Mississippi 10
- Missouri 42
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 5
- New Hampshire 11
- New Mexico 5
- New York 125
- North Carolina 54
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 68
- Oklahoma 14
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 113
- Puerto Rico 32
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 30
- South Dakota 10
- Tennessee 28
- Texas 65
- Utah 8
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 43
- Washington 20
- West Virginia 13
- Wisconsin 34