2023 Best Schools in New Jersey
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Schools in New Jersey to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 39 schools in New Jersey to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Schools in New Jersey
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Princeton University to be the best school for students in New Jersey.
During the early years of their career, Princeton graduates make an average of $58,198 annually.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means The College of New Jersey is a great place for students.
On average, students take out $22,132 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $327 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, TCNJ graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $48,225 during the early year of their career.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Thomas Edison State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Schools in New Jersey list.
Degree recipients from TESU accumulate an average of $18,852 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, TESU graduates make an average of $58,555 annually.
Out of the 39 schools in New Jersey that were part of this year’s ranking, Stevens Institute of Technology landed the # 4 spot on the list.
For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $696. Once they receive their degree, Stevens graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $78,765 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Rutgers University - Newark helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in New Jersey.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,382 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $262. Once they receive their degree, Rutgers Newark graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,097 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #6, New Jersey Institute of Technology did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,600 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $215, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, NJIT graduates make an average of $64,531 annually.
With a ranking of #7, Rider University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $25,127 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $521.After graduating from Rider, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $43,094 during the early years of their career.
Ramapo College of New Jersey came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New Jersey ranking.
Degree recipients from Ramapo College accumulate an average of $22,964 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $376, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Ramapo College graduates make an average of $42,404 annually.
Rutgers University - New Brunswick came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New Jersey ranking.
Degree recipients from Rutgers New Brunswick accumulate an average of $24,135 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $259 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Rutgers New Brunswick graduates make an average of $51,056 annually.
With a ranking of #10, Centenary University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
On average, students take out $25,323 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $213, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Centenary graduates make an average of $41,315 annually.
Rutgers University - Camden came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New Jersey ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,092 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $249, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Rutgers Camden graduates make an average of $47,992 annually.
Middlesex County College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New Jersey ranking.
On average, students take out $12,313 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Middlesex County College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,545 during the early year of their career.
Seton Hall University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New Jersey ranking.
Degree recipients from Seton Hall accumulate an average of $22,193 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $521 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Seton Hall graduates make an average of $54,624 annually.
Rowan University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Schools in New Jersey list.
Degree recipients from Rowan accumulate an average of $23,830 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $279, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Rowan, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,169 during the early years of their career.
Montclair State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New Jersey ranking.
Degree recipients from Montclair State accumulate an average of $24,767 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $253.After graduating from Montclair State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,886 during the early years of their career.
Monmouth University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Monmouth accumulate an average of $24,982 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $665, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Monmouth graduates make an average of $46,267 annually.
Kean University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #17 on the list.
On average, students take out $27,358 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $236. Once they receive their degree, Kean graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $45,194 during the early year of their career.
Stockton University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #18 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,498 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $265. During the early years of their career, Stockton State graduates make an average of $39,517 annually.
Essex County College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #19 on the list.
On average, students take out $11,116 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Essex graduates make an average of $32,750 annually.
Georgian Court University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #20 on the list.
On average, students take out $25,594 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $194.After graduating from Georgian Court, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,664 during the early years of their career.
Union County College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Schools in New Jersey list.
On average, students take out $16,094 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Union County College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,152 during the early year of their career.
William Paterson University of New Jersey came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New Jersey ranking.
Degree recipients from William Paterson University accumulate an average of $26,059 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $188, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, William Paterson University graduates make an average of $43,120 annually.
College of Saint Elizabeth did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #23 on the list.
On average, students take out $25,965 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from CSE, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $51,086 during the early years of their career.
Berkeley College - Woodland Park came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New Jersey ranking.
On average, students take out $28,316 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $127, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Berkeley College - Woodland Park graduates make an average of $34,988 annually.
Drew University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in New Jersey ranking.
On average, students take out $24,048 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Drew graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $31,531 during the early year of their career.
Best Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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