College Compass GuideTrue north for every college search.

Every accredited U.S. college

Colleges

Every accredited four-year college, rated on Academic Excellence and Value (what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and student debt), all from federal data.

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Compass Score sorts by outcomes, students and cost together. The other sorts order every college by a different measure.
Ratings
Compass ScoreCompass Score: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges from federal data: outcomes (40%), entering students (40%), cost (15%) and teaching (5%). Choose the lowest grade to show.
ValueValue: what families pay after aid, graduation rate, earnings and debt, from federal data.
Academic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges, from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.
Only Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only the eight Ivy League universities.
Location1
Distance (miles)
A broad region of the country, as the guide groups the states. Territories are listed separately.
School
Type of college, as college guides group them (from the federal Carnegie Classification): national universities offer a full range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and do research; liberal arts colleges focus on undergraduates in the arts and sciences; regional universities mostly offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees; regional colleges mostly offer bachelor’s degrees in many fields; specialized schools focus on one field, such as health, art or business.
Public or privatePublic: run by a state or local government. Private: nonprofit or for-profit.
Total enrollment: small is under 2,000 students, medium 2,000 to 9,999, large 10,000 to 24,999, and very large 25,000 or more.
Net price: what a typical student pays per year after grants and scholarships, from the federal College Scorecard.
Coed: men and women together. Single-sex: all-male or all-female.
Campus life
College sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.
Where the campus is, from federal data: in a city, a suburb, a town, or a rural area.
The college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).
The college offers study abroad (federal data).
Admissions and outcomes
How many applicants are admitted (federal data). Most: 65% or more. Selective: 25% to 64%. Highly selective: under 25%.
Your SAT or ACT, to sort colleges Target, Likely and Reach. Signed in, it is kept on your account (private to you); otherwise only in this browser.
Reach, Target or LikelyA rough guide from admitted students' scores and admission rates, not a prediction. Target: your score is in the college's middle range. Likely: above it, or the college admits most applicants. Reach: below it, or the college admits fewer than 1 in 5.
Small classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
Strong outcomes: 75% or more of students graduate (federal data).
Major1
Colleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.
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RecommendedOnly Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.Honor RollOnly Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.ValueOnly colleges with a Value score of 85 or higher (grade A), from federal data.AcademicsOnly schools with an Academic Excellence grade of A or better (the top 10% of rated colleges), from federal data.Ivy LeagueOnly the eight Ivy League universities.Clear
Division I sportsCollege sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.ROTCThe college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).Study abroadThe college offers study abroad (federal data).NursingColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.EngineeringColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.Under $20kNet price under $20,000 a year: what a typical student pays after grants and scholarships (federal data).Small classesSmall classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
State: New JerseyMajor: PsychologyClear all

24 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 9%

    Rutgers University-New Brunswick

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    New Brunswick, NJ · Public · 4-year · 50,617 students

    $24,406 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 11%

    The College of New Jersey

    Top 7% for graduation
    Ewing, NJ · Public · 4-year · 7,652 students

    $27,646 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 19%

    Drew University

    Excellent: Compass grade A-
    Madison, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,226 students

    $24,280 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 19%

    Seton Hall University

    Top 14% for earnings
    South Orange, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 9,494 students

    $31,446 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 21%

    Ramapo College of New Jersey

    Top 17% for earnings
    Mahwah, NJ · Public · 4-year · 5,521 students

    $18,173 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 24%

    Rutgers University-Camden

    Top 11% for earnings
    Camden, NJ · Public · 4-year · 5,776 students

    $18,745 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 27%

    Rowan University

    Top 25% for graduation
    Glassboro, NJ · Public · 4-year · 19,660 students

    $22,408 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 27%

    Monmouth University

    Top 16% for earnings
    West Long Branch, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,981 students

    $30,988 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 30%

    Rutgers University-Newark

    Top 11% for earnings
    Newark, NJ · Public · 4-year · 10,809 students

    $19,703 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 33%

    Stockton University

    Top 23% for graduation
    Galloway, NJ · Public · 4-year · 8,788 students

    $20,670 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 35%

    Caldwell University

    Very good: Compass grade B+
    Caldwell, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,864 students

    $24,691 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 36%

    Rider University

    Top 24% for earnings
    Lawrenceville, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,083 students

    $24,792 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 39%

    Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus

    Good: Compass grade B
    Madison, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,778 students

    $22,829 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 43%

    Montclair State University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Montclair, NJ · Public · 4-year · 22,570 students

    $15,566 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 47%

    Saint Peter's University

    Top 22% for low net price
    Jersey City, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,673 students

    $12,199 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Centenary University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Hackettstown, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,453 students

    $20,503 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Georgian Court University

    Good: Compass grade B-
    Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,910 students

    $19,285 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus

    Good: Compass grade B-
    Teaneck, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,607 students

    $15,404 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Pillar College

    Top 11% for low net price
    Newark, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 554 students

    $8,470 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Felician University

    Good: Compass grade B-
    Lodi, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,236 students

    $40,045 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Kean University

    Top 23% for low net price
    Union, NJ · Public · 4-year · 13,352 students

    $12,447 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Saint Elizabeth University

    Good: Compass grade B-
    Morristown, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,009 students

    $23,125 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreSolid

    William Paterson University of New Jersey

    Solid: Compass grade C+
    Wayne, NJ · Public · 4-year · 9,426 students

    $18,745 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreSolid

    Bloomfield College of Montclair State University

    Solid: Compass grade C+
    Bloomfield, NJ · Public · 4-year · 910 students

    $28,014 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong

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