Colleges where the most freshmen return in New Jersey
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in New Jersey17 schools
17 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
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 first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, 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
- 98% of freshmen return
- 98% graduate
- 2
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel
Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 4% for graduation
- 95% of freshmen return
- 91% graduate
- 3
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- 94% of freshmen return
- 87% graduate
- 4
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- 93% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
- 5
- 6
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, NJ · PublicTop 6% for earnings
- 90% of freshmen return
- 73% graduate
- 7
Drew University
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- 88% of freshmen return
- 70% graduate
- 8
- 9
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · PublicTop 17% for earnings
- 84% of freshmen return
- 70% graduate
- 10
- 11
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- 81% of freshmen return
- 69% graduate
- 12
- 13
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- 80% of freshmen return
- 72% graduate
- 14
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 24% for earnings
- 78% of freshmen return
- 61% graduate
- 15
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 78% of freshmen return
- 67% graduate
- 16
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 78% of freshmen return
- 56% graduate
- 17
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 77% of freshmen return
- 57% 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% |
| Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel | $10,016 | — | — | 91% |
| 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% |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | $16,504 | $21,000 | $84,276 | 73% |
| Drew University | $24,280 | $25,288 | $63,646 | 70% |
| Rutgers University-Newark | $19,703 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 64% |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | $18,173 | $21,000 | $67,541 | 70% |
| Rowan University | $22,408 | $20,500 | $59,988 | 67% |
| Seton Hall University | $31,446 | $22,750 | $70,196 | 69% |
| Rutgers University-Camden | $18,745 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 67% |
| Monmouth University | $30,988 | $27,000 | $67,991 | 72% |
| Rider University | $24,792 | $26,130 | $62,208 | 61% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | $22,829 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 67% |
| Centenary University | $20,503 | $23,163 | $53,726 | 56% |
| Caldwell University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $53,843 | 57% |
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 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15