Best Community Colleges in New Jersey 2024

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The best community colleges provide an effective springboard into higher education, offering students high-quality two-year degree programs in a wide range of disciplines. The top-rated community colleges in New Jersey offer a broad selection of associate’s degrees, affordable tuition rates, and strong partnerships with public four-year schools so that students can easily transfer their credits into accredited bachelor’s degree programs.

10 Best Community Colleges in New Jersey

Sort by:
  1. Camden County College
  2. Union College
  3. Brookdale Community College
  4. Hudson County Community College
  5. Essex County College
  6. Mercer County Community College
  7. Cumberland County College
  8. County College of Morris
  9. Bergen Community College
  10. Raritan Valley Community College
  1. Camden County College
  2. Raritan Valley Community College
  3. Brookdale Community College
  4. Atlantic Cape Community College
  5. Mercer County Community College
  6. County College of Morris
  7. Essex County College
  8. Salem Community College
  9. Bergen Community College
  10. Hudson County Community College
    1. Essex County College 24 to 1
    2. Rowan College of South Jersey 24 to 1
    3. Camden County College 23 to 1
    4. Cumberland County College 23 to 1
    5. Union College 22 to 1
    6. Hudson County Community College 22 to 1
    7. Bergen Community College 19 to 1
    8. Middlesex College 19 to 1
    9. Raritan Valley Community College 19 to 1
    10. Brookdale Community College 18 to 1
    1. Union College $10,562
    2. Essex County College $7,897
    3. Brookdale Community College $7,755
    4. Bergen Community College $7,368
    5. Passaic County Community College $7,260
    6. Hudson County Community College $7,152
    7. County College of Morris $7,008
    8. Salem Community College $6,930
    9. Raritan Valley Community College $6,096
    10. Atlantic Cape Community College $5,883
      1. Middlesex College
      2. Warren County Community College
      3. Sussex County Community College
      4. Passaic County Community College
      5. Rowan College of South Jersey
      6. Assumption College for Sisters
      7. Ocean County College
      8. Atlantic Cape Community College
      9. Salem Community College
      10. Rowan College at Burlington County
      1. Middlesex College
      2. Union College
      3. Warren County Community College
      4. Sussex County Community College
      5. Passaic County Community College
      6. Assumption College for Sisters
      7. Cumberland County College
      8. Rowan College of South Jersey
      9. Ocean County College
      10. Rowan College at Burlington County
        1. Assumption College for Sisters 5 to 1
        2. Atlantic Cape Community College 14 to 1
        3. Passaic County Community College 15 to 1
        4. Salem Community College 15 to 1
        5. Mercer County Community College 16 to 1
        6. Sussex County Community College 17 to 1
        7. County College of Morris 17 to 1
        8. Brookdale Community College 18 to 1
        9. Rowan College at Burlington County 18 to 1
        10. Warren County Community College 18 to 1
        1. Camden County College $2,856
        2. Rowan College at Burlington County $3,816
        3. Cumberland County College $4,260
        4. Rowan College of South Jersey $4,260
        5. Mercer County Community College $4,848
        6. Sussex County Community College $5,040
        7. Warren County Community College $5,100
        8. Ocean County College $5,320
        9. Middlesex College $5,472
        10. Assumption College for Sisters $5,773

          Colleges and Universities in New Jersey

          Nearly half of the colleges and universities in this state are private, and tuition rates range from $6,000 to $52,000. With a graduation rate of 97% and a student population of just over 7,000, Princeton University is the state’s most esteemed institution. Narrowing in on the sciences and arts, this Ivy League school offers unique areas of study, including robotics, intelligent systems, and public life. The remaining 31 public colleges and universities range in tuition from $4,000 to $17,000.

          Find college admissions consultants in your state.

          The state’s largest and top-ranked public research institution is Rutgers University. With campuses in New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden as well as smaller locations across the state, Rutgers awards degrees in physics, economics, criminal justice, and psychology. New Jersey also has 11 religiously affiliated colleges and universities, including the oldest diocesan university in the United States, Seton Hall University. This Roman Catholic university has a tuition rate of $42,000 and a student population of over 8,000.

          New Jersey, known for its sandy shores and busy expressways, also has more diners than any other state in the U.S., as well as the world’s longest boardwalk, located in Atlantic City. Many influential people, including Buzz Aldrin, Frank Sinatra, and Thomas Edison, have called The Garden State home. Visitors can even peek at some of Edison’s early light bulbs at the Menlo Park Museum. And with 50 higher learning institutions to choose from, students can find a school that suits their career path and budget.

          Learn more about earning your degree from one of New Jersey’s highly regarded colleges and universities.


          What are New Jersey’s Colleges & Universities?

          New Jersey’s Best Overall

          New Jersey's Best Community Colleges Badge
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          We’ve identified 20 community colleges in New Jersey. The following list shows the best community colleges and primarily associate degree granting colleges in New Jersey.

          Best Community Colleges in New Jersey

          1. #1

            Camden County College

            Blackwood , NJ

            Tuition + fees

            $4K

            Graduation

            22%

            Student body

            16K

            Career Outlook for degree at Camden County College

            Cost of Degree: $3,744
            Starting Salary: $37,000
            What is Camden County College known for?

            Camden County College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          2. #2

            Union College

            Cranford , NJ

            Tuition + fees

            $11K

            Graduation

            35%

            Student body

            11K

            Career Outlook for degree at Union College

            Cost of Degree: $10,562
            Starting Salary: $37,100
            What is Union College known for?

            Union College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          3. Other Rankings

            Tuition + fees

            $9K

            Graduation

            29%

            Student body

            14K

            Career Outlook for degree at Brookdale Community College

            Cost of Degree: $8,948
            Starting Salary: $39,700
            What is Brookdale Community College known for?

            Brookdale Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          4. Tuition + fees

            $8K

            Graduation

            17%

            Student body

            10K

            Career Outlook for degree at Hudson County Community College

            Cost of Degree: $8,390
            Starting Salary: $34,500
            What is Hudson County Community College known for?

            Hudson County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          5. Tuition + fees

            $9K

            Graduation

            17%

            Student body

            9K

            Career Outlook for degree at Essex County College

            Cost of Degree: $9,141
            Starting Salary: $34,300
            What is Essex County College known for?

            Essex County College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          6. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            17%

            Student body

            9K

            Career Outlook for degree at Mercer County Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,150
            Starting Salary: $38,500
            What is Mercer County Community College known for?

            Mercer County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          7. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            29%

            Student body

            3K

            Career Outlook for degree at Cumberland County College

            Cost of Degree: $5,640
            Starting Salary: $35,100
            What is Cumberland County College known for?

            Cumberland County College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          8. Tuition + fees

            $8K

            Graduation

            33%

            Student body

            9K

            Career Outlook for degree at County College of Morris

            Cost of Degree: $10,260
            Starting Salary: $43,200
            What is County College of Morris known for?

            County College of Morris’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          9. Tuition + fees

            $8K

            Graduation

            25%

            Student body

            15K

            Career Outlook for degree at Bergen Community College

            Cost of Degree: $8,438
            Starting Salary: $42,500
            What is Bergen Community College known for?

            Bergen Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          10. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            32%

            Student body

            9K

            Career Outlook for degree at Raritan Valley Community College

            Cost of Degree: $7,296
            Starting Salary: $45,000
            What is Raritan Valley Community College known for?

            Raritan Valley Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          11. #12

            Salem Community College

            Carneys Point , NJ

            Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            40%

            Student body

            2K

            Career Outlook for degree at Salem Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,930
            Starting Salary: $34,500
            What is Salem Community College known for?

            Salem Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          12. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            23%

            Student body

            6K

            Career Outlook for degree at Atlantic Cape Community College

            Cost of Degree: $6,840
            Starting Salary: $32,100
            What is Atlantic Cape Community College known for?

            Atlantic Cape Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          13. #14

            Ocean County College

            Toms River , NJ

            Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            40%

            Student body

            13K

            Career Outlook for degree at Ocean County College

            Cost of Degree: $5,320
            Starting Salary: $39,600
            What is Ocean County College known for?

            Ocean County College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

          14. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            100%

            Student body

            <1K

            What is Assumption College for Sisters known for?
          15. Tuition + fees

            $6K

            Graduation

            32%

            Student body

            8K

            Career Outlook for degree at Rowan College of South Jersey

            Cost of Degree: $5,640
            Starting Salary: $38,900
            What is Rowan College of South Jersey known for?

            Rowan College of South Jersey’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          16. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            13%

            Student body

            7K

            Career Outlook for degree at Passaic County Community College

            Cost of Degree: $7,350
            Starting Salary: $32,200
            What is Passaic County Community College known for?

            Passaic County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          17. Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            33%

            Student body

            3K

            Career Outlook for degree at Sussex County Community College

            Cost of Degree: $7,080
            Starting Salary: $37,700
            What is Sussex County Community College known for?

            Sussex County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          18. Tuition + fees

            $5K

            Graduation

            31%

            Student body

            3K

            Career Outlook for degree at Warren County Community College

            Cost of Degree: $5,490
            Starting Salary: $36,500
            What is Warren County Community College known for?

            Warren County Community College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

          19. #20

            Middlesex College

            Edison , NJ

            Tuition + fees

            $7K

            Graduation

            27%

            Student body

            15K

            Career Outlook for degree at Middlesex College

            Cost of Degree: $6,876
            Starting Salary: $42,600
            What is Middlesex College known for?

            Middlesex College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

            Most Influential Alumni

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