Graduate school may be a critical step in your higher education, whether you are interested in expanding your knowledge, learning a specialization, or earning advanced credentials required by your profession. The best graduate schools in New Jersey offer advanced degrees, such as master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as opportunities for independent research, mentorships, and professional networking.
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.
There are 20 doctorate-granting graduate schools in New Jersey. Our ranking of the best graduate schools in the New Jersey is composed of both private and public schools. To be included, schools must be fully accredited non-profit institutions, and must offer doctoral degrees and a broad array of graduate degrees.
Tuition + fees
$56K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
98%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1510/33
Princeton University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$47K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
72%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1230/27
Seton Hall University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
53%
Graduation
87%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1400/32
Stevens Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
71%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/20
Rutgers University–Camden’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
74%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1295/28
New Jersey Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
69%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/24
Rowan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
67%
Student body
19K
Montclair State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$43K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
74%
Student body
2K
Drew University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$42K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
69%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/23
Monmouth University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
61%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/23
Rider University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
48%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1010/19
Kean University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
76%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1101/23
Stockton University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
84%
Student body
48K
Median SAT/ACT
1295/28
Rutgers University–New Brunswick’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
39%
Student body
6K
New Jersey City University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
58%
Student body
3K
Saint Peter's University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
65%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/20
Rutgers University–Newark’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
52%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
970/18
Felician University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
59%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1015/19
Caldwell University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
68%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
997/18
Centenary University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
39%
Student body
1K
Saint Elizabeth University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Are you a student who has questions about this topic? Submit your question below to have one of our expert team members answer it for you! (Questions will be posted with their answers directly to this article, and we'll notify you when yours is answered!)