Best value colleges in New Jersey
Colleges with an Academic Excellence grade of B+ or better, ranked by Value: net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt from federal data.
Best value colleges in New Jersey16 schools
16 schools qualify, ranked by Value.
How this list is made
- Schools in New Jersey.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a Value score from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Value, highest first.
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%
- Net price $6,128 a year
- 2
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 6% for earnings
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- Net price $16,504 a year
- 3
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 12%
- Net price $18,745 a year
- 4
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 11% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- Net price $19,703 a year
- 5
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · PublicTop 17% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 16%
- Net price $18,173 a year
- 6
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Value grade B+ · Top 28%
- Net price $24,406 a year
- 7
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · PublicTop 25% for graduation
- Value grade B · Top 40%
- Net price $22,408 a year
- 8
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ · PublicTop 7% for graduation
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- Net price $27,646 a year
- 9
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B
- Net price $20,503 a year
- 10
Drew University
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Value grade B
- Net price $24,280 a year
- 11
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B-
- Net price $22,829 a year
- 12
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $24,792 a year
- 13
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $31,446 a year
- 14
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Value grade B-
- Net price $24,691 a year
- 15
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Value grade B-
- Net price $30,988 a year
- 16
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Value grade C+
- Net price $41,346 a year
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% |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | $16,504 | $21,000 | $84,276 | 73% |
| Rutgers University-Camden | $18,745 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 67% |
| Rutgers University-Newark | $19,703 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 64% |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | $18,173 | $21,000 | $67,541 | 70% |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | $24,406 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 84% |
| Rowan University | $22,408 | $20,500 | $59,988 | 67% |
| The College of New Jersey | $27,646 | $23,250 | $73,323 | 86% |
| Centenary University | $20,503 | $23,163 | $53,726 | 56% |
| Drew University | $24,280 | $25,288 | $63,646 | 70% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | $22,829 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 67% |
| Rider University | $24,792 | $26,130 | $62,208 | 61% |
| Seton Hall University | $31,446 | $22,750 | $70,196 | 69% |
| Caldwell University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $53,843 | 57% |
| Monmouth University | $30,988 | $27,000 | $67,991 | 72% |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | $41,346 | $27,000 | $108,772 | 87% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 59
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 17
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New York 75
- North Carolina 16
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 10
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15