Most selective colleges in New Jersey
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in New Jersey17 schools
17 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in New Jersey
- Admits 5%
- Average SAT 1553
- 2
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 1% for earnings
- Admits 48%
- Average SAT 1446
- 3
- 4
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 58%
- Average SAT 1410
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Admits 71%
- Average SAT 1260
- 11
- 12
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 14% for earnings
- Admits 73%
- Average SAT 1322
- 13
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- 16
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- Admits 89%
- Average SAT 1223
- 17
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Admits 95%
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% |
| Rutgers University-Camden | $18,745 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 67% |
| Drew University | $24,280 | $25,288 | $63,646 | 70% |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | $18,173 | $21,000 | $67,541 | 70% |
| Caldwell University | $24,691 | $25,000 | $53,843 | 57% |
| Rutgers University-Newark | $19,703 | $21,500 | $74,479 | 64% |
| Seton Hall University | $31,446 | $22,750 | $70,196 | 69% |
| Rowan University | $22,408 | $20,500 | $59,988 | 67% |
| Rider University | $24,792 | $26,130 | $62,208 | 61% |
| Centenary University | $20,503 | $23,163 | $53,726 | 56% |
| Monmouth University | $30,988 | $27,000 | $67,991 | 72% |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | $22,829 | $25,000 | $57,273 | 67% |
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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15