2025 Best Colleges in New Jersey

Academic Highlights: An absurdly low 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio does, as you might expect, translate to tiny class sizes for undergraduates. Just under three-quarters of class sections have an enrollment of 19 or fewer students, and 32% have fewer than ten students. Princeton is known for its commitment to undergraduate teaching, and students consistently rate professors as accessible and helpful. The Office of Undergraduate Research assists Tigers in locating faculty members with whom they can jointly conduct research in the summer or during a regular term. More than four hundred study abroad programs, internships, and experiences are available in over 140 countries; 61% of students ultimately engage in at least one international experience.

Professional Highlights: Over 93% of a typical Tiger class has found their next destination within six months of graduating. Companies presently employing hundreds of Tiger alumni include Google, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, Morgan Stanley, IBM, and Meta. The average salary reported by 2023 graduates was $89k across all majors. Between 15-20% of graduating Tigers head directly to graduate/professional school. Tigers typically choose equally prestigious graduate schools to attend. Members of one recent class flocked in the largest numbers to Stanford, Penn, Princeton, Harvard, Cambridge, Columbia, and Oxford in that order.

Academic Highlights: Rutgers is divided into 19 schools and colleges, collectively offering 120+ undergraduate majors. Forty percent of class sections have an enrollment of nineteen or fewer students compared to only 19% of sections that contain more than 50 undergrads. The Aresty Research Center facilitates several programs that match 300+ undergraduates per year with faculty members conducting research in an area of interest. An annual Undergraduate Research Symposium—one of the largest in the country—has showcased thousands of student projects in its 20 years of existence.

Professional Outcomes: Upon graduation, 89% of Class of 2023 grads had secured a first job or were heading to an advanced degree program. 71% headed directly to the world of employment, where the companies hiring the largest number of grads included RWJBarnabas Health, Amazon, and Lockheed Martin. Investment banks like JP Morgan Chase employ hundreds of alumni, as do companies like Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and CVS Pharmacy. The median starting salary across all majors was $70,000.

Academic Highlights: Forty-two percent of course sections contain fewer than 20 students. Undergraduate research possibilities are plentiful and varied. Roughly 10% of each freshman class is invited to become Pinnacle Scholars, which guarantees three paid summer research and/or international experiences.  Co-op experiences are embarked upon by slightly less than one-third of students. A number of study abroad programs are available with some of the most popular destinations being the United Kingdom, Belgium, Jamaica, China, Spain, Thailand, and Greece.

Professional Outcomes: Within six months of graduating, 96% of the Class of 2023 found employment or graduate school homes. Recent grads landed at Amazon, AT&T, Boeing, Cigna, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, PwC, and Wells Fargo. Massive numbers of alumni can also be found at Verizon, JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Pfizer, Merck, and Google. The average starting salary was $85,200. Of the 33% who immediately enrolled in graduate school, the vast majority were pursuing master’s degrees (94%).

Academic Highlights: With the 9th highest four-year graduation rate among the nation’s traditional four-year institutions, TCNJ stands in esteemed company alongside schools like UVA, Michigan, and UNC-Chapel Hill. TCNJ sports a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of twenty-one; 41% of sections contain fewer than 20 students. While you won’t find many seminar-style courses with single-digit enrollments, there are plenty of ways to personally connect with faculty thanks to the school’s serious commitment to facilitating undergraduate research. In fact, the Council on Undergraduate Research awarded TCNJ its signature honor, the Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishment.

Professional Outcomes: Checking in with TCNJ grads one year after receiving their degrees, 98% of recent grads had entered the working world or started an advanced degree. The list of companies employing significant numbers of recent alumni includes Johnson and Johnson, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Amazon,  Deloitte, Lockheed Martin, EY, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The most frequently attended graduate schools by recent grads included Rutgers, Columbia, and NYU.

Academic Highlights: NJIT offers students 51 undergraduate majors with a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, supported by a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and optimally sized classes—68% with fewer than 30 students and only 3% exceeding 50. The university’s research ecosystem is exceptionally robust, featuring 140+ specialized institutes, centers, and labs where undergraduates can engage in meaningful projects. Through initiatives like the Student Seed Program, students receive up to $500 for preliminary research and can secure additional funding up to $3,000 to advance their work. NJIT’s faculty are leaders in their fields, with 99% holding terminal degrees, ensuring cutting-edge mentorship.

Professional Outcomes: NJIT graduates achieve outstanding career outcomes, with 85% employed within six months of graduation and another 10% pursuing advanced degrees at elite institutions like MIT, Columbia, and Yale School of Medicine. The university’s strong industry connections place alumni at top employers such as Lockheed Martin, Johnson & Johnson, and Amazon, with graduates commanding an impressive average starting salary of $76,249. These results underscore NJIT’s success in preparing students for high-impact careers in fields where its rigorous, research-driven education delivers exceptional value.

Academic Highlights: As a premier public research institution, Rutgers University-Newark combines academic rigor with an exceptionally diverse learning community. The university offers more than 40 undergraduate majors supported by a favorable 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio, with 68% of classes maintaining an optimal size of 10-39 students. With 46 dedicated research centers and institutes, undergraduates enjoy exceptional opportunities to engage in meaningful scholarship alongside faculty mentors.

Professional Outcomes: Rutgers-Newark graduates launch careers with leading employers, including Hackensack Meridian Health, Prudential Financial, Merck, and Bristol Myers Squibb, as well as the university itself. Alumni predominantly establish themselves in the greater New York City metropolitan region, with a significant professional presence in Newark, contributing to the economic and civic vitality of the area.

Academic Highlights: Rowan University provides comprehensive educational opportunities through 104 undergraduate programs across eight colleges and seven schools. With a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 20, students benefit from both the resources of a large institution and personalized academic support. The university enhances learning through 25+ specialized research centers and institutes, while global perspectives are fostered through study abroad partnerships with 10 international universities. This balance of breadth and depth prepares graduates to excel in diverse professional fields.

Professional Outcomes: Rowan graduates launch successful careers with top employers, including Lockheed Martin, JPMorgan Chase, and Virtua Health, demonstrating the university’s strong connections across industries. Most alumni choose to build their careers in New Jersey, with many also contributing to the thriving Greater Philadelphia region’s workforce. These outcomes reflect Rowan’s successful integration of academic rigor with real-world professional preparation.

Academic Highlights: Rutgers University-Camden provides a distinctive blend of personalized education and research excellence, offering 38 undergraduate majors across four schools with an intimate 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 24. As home to New Jersey’s most extensive research laboratory network, Rutgers-Camden engages 100+ undergraduates in meaningful research annually. The university enhances its curriculum with innovative global learning options, including 15-20 faculty-led Learning Abroad courses each year alongside traditional study abroad programs, creating accessible international experiences for all students.

Professional Outcomes: Rutgers-Camden graduates achieve exceptional outcomes, with 95% employed or in graduate school within six months, earning an impressive average salary of $66,471. Alumni secure positions at elite employers like Apple, Lockheed Martin, and KPMG, while 23% continue their education at top institutions, including Johns Hopkins and Villanova. Most build their careers in the thriving Greater Philadelphia region or throughout New Jersey, demonstrating how Rutgers-Camden’s combination of research opportunities, global perspectives, and personalized attention creates graduates who excel in competitive professional markets.

Academic Highlights: Stockton University provides a distinctive interdisciplinary education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, offering students 44 academic programs across seven schools. The university maintains a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio, with 94% of faculty holding terminal degrees in their fields, ensuring expert instruction and mentorship. Students engage in hands-on learning through undergraduate research opportunities, including participation in the prestigious National Science Foundation-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates program. This robust academic environment fosters intellectual curiosity and prepares students for diverse career paths and advanced study.

Program Outcomes: Stockton graduates achieve a 79% success rate, with 66% entering the workforce and 12% pursuing further education. Alumni secure positions with leading employers such as CVS, Deloitte, ESS, and Inspira Health Network, while others launch entrepreneurial ventures. The university maintains strong regional ties, with 80% of graduates building careers in New Jersey, particularly in Galloway Township (19%), Atlantic City, and Egg Harbor Township. For those continuing their education, 39% choose to remain at Stockton for advanced study. Graduates report median earnings of $57,602, reflecting the value of Stockton’s career-focused liberal arts education in the regional job market.

Academic Highlights: Seton Hall University delivers a values-based Catholic education through 90+ majors and programs, fostering both intellectual growth and ethical development. With a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and average class size of 21, students from 48 states and 40 countries benefit from personalized attention in a diverse learning community. The university emphasizes hands-on preparation, with 83% of students completing experiential learning opportunities that bridge classroom theory with real-world application.

Professional Outcomes: Seton Hall graduates achieve exceptional career success, boasting a 97% employment rate and mid-career earnings 50% above national averages. The university’s strong industry connections provide access to 17,000+ internships, with 81% of students gaining professional experience. Alumni launch careers at elite employers like Goldman Sachs, Deloitte, and Amazon, while graduate school applicants enjoy a 98% acceptance rate. Most build their professional lives in the New York City metropolitan area, demonstrating how Seton Hall’s combination of ethical formation, academic rigor, and unparalleled professional access creates highly sought-after graduates.