Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Research Universities in New Jersey 2026

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST IN NEW JERSEY RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

By Dr. James Barham

Updated: Oct 5, 2026

Interested in attending a STEM school in New Jersey? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

10 Best Research Universities in New Jersey 2026

Princeton University
Stevens Institute of Technology
+1
Seton Hall University
–1
Rutgers University–Camden
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Montclair State University
+1
Rowan University
–1
Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Rutgers University–Newark

Table of Contents

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

How do we determine New Jersey's best research universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 9 research universities in New Jersey. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Best Research Universities in New Jersey 2023

Last Year’s Ranking:
1. Princeton University
2. Seton Hall University
3. Stevens Institute of Technology
4. Rutgers University–Camden
5. New Jersey Institute of Technology
6. Rowan University
7. Montclair State University
8. Rutgers University–New Brunswick
9. Rutgers University–Newark
#1
Princeton University
Princeton , NJ
#4 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #6 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2026 #6 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2026 #7 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2026
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
6%
Graduation
97%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for degree at Princeton University
Cost of Degree: $59,710
Expenses: $24,330
Starting Salary: $116,300
Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Princeton University known for?

Princeton University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Mathematics
Philosophy
Physics
Religious Studies
Computer Science
Political Science
Economics
History
Literature
Education

Most Influential Alumni

Richard Feynman
Marvin Minsky
John Rawls
Alonzo Church
Robert Mueller
Allen Newell
Edward Witten
John McCarthy
Robert Nozick
John Bardeen
Edward Said
Gary Becker
Compare school
#2
Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken , NJ
#2 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2026 #2 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey 2026 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #2 Best Colleges in New Jersey 2026
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
46%
Graduation
88%
Student body
9K
Median SAT/ACT
1445/32
Career Outlook for degree at Stevens Institute of Technology
Cost of Degree: $60,952
Expenses: $20,900
Starting Salary: $91,900
Cost Recoup Time: 15 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Stevens Institute of Technology known for?

Stevens Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Engineering
Physics
Computer Science
Mathematics
Business
Chemistry
Literature
Sociology
Biology
Criminal Justice

Most Influential Alumni

L. Sprague de Camp
Alexander Calder
Frederick Winslow Taylor
Frederick Reines
Igor Ansoff
David J. Farber
Richard Easterlin
Zehev Tadmor
Gerald Goertzel
Marques Brownlee
Richard Reeves
William W. Destler
Compare school
#3
Seton Hall University
South Orange , NJ
#23 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2026 #1 Best Christian Colleges in New Jersey 2026 #3 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2026 #3 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey 2026
Tuition + fees
$49K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
72%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1310/29
Career Outlook for degree at Seton Hall University
Cost of Degree: $51,370
Expenses: $21,350
Starting Salary: $63,700
Cost Recoup Time: 17 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Seton Hall University known for?

Seton Hall University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Nursing
Law
Criminal Justice
Religious Studies
Political Science
Medical
Anthropology
Business
Education
History

Most Influential Alumni

Artie Lange
Chris Christie
Dick Vitale
John L. McNulty
Max Weinberg
Malcolm Diamond
Brendan Byrne
Charlie Haas
Thomas Aloysius Boland
Bill Raftery
Patrick E. Hobbs
John B. Duff
Compare school
#4
Rutgers University–Camden
Camden , NJ
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2026 #1 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2026 #4 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2026 #4 Best Colleges in New Jersey 2026
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
65%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/27
Career Outlook for degree at Rutgers University–Camden
Cost of Degree: $17,079
Expenses: $19,152
Starting Salary: $68,100
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Rutgers University–Camden known for?

Rutgers University–Camden’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Law
Social Work
Medical
Sociology
Philosophy
Nursing
Mathematics
Chemistry
Political Science
Physics

Most Influential Alumni

Louis Freeh
Elizabeth Warren
David R. Mayer
Donora Hillard
Barry Zuckerman
Rutgers University–Camden’s Online Degrees
BA in Business Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Nursing: RN to BSN

Required Credits: 121
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark , NJ
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2026 #2 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2026 #5 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2026 #6 Best Colleges in New Jersey 2026
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
74%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1320/30
Career Outlook for degree at New Jersey Institute of Technology
Cost of Degree: $19,022
Expenses: $22,330
Starting Salary: $70,300
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is New Jersey Institute of Technology known for?

New Jersey Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Engineering
Physics
Computer Science
Chemistry
Mathematics
Business
Criminal Justice
Education
Medical
Psychology

Most Influential Alumni

A. Michael Noll
Pierre Ramond
Victor J. Stenger
Grace Hartigan
Moshe Kam
Gerard J. Foschini
John Pelesko
Bruce Jackson
Abolhassan Naeini
Charles Speziale
Wally Schirra
James Quintiere
New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Online Degrees
BS in Business

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#6
Montclair State University
Montclair , NJ
#3 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2026 #3 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2026 #6 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2026 #7 Best Colleges in New Jersey 2026
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
65%
Student body
24K
Career Outlook for degree at Montclair State University
Cost of Degree: $14,766
Expenses: $20,262
Starting Salary: $52,400
Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Montclair State University known for?

Montclair State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Philosophy
Earth Sciences
Nursing
Sociology
Literature
Anthropology
Education
Communications
Mathematics
Biology

Most Influential Alumni

Nel Noddings
Allen Ginsberg
Robert M. Price
Bruce Willis
Christopher Phillips
Paul J. Lioy
Gina Lucia
Sharpe James
Jason Biggs
Barbara Buono
Julia Indichova
Tobin Bell
Compare school
#7
Rowan University
Glassboro , NJ
#4 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2026 #4 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2026 #7 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2026 #8 Best Colleges in New Jersey 2026
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
77%
Graduation
68%
Student body
22K
Median SAT/ACT
1195/27
Career Outlook for degree at Rowan University
Cost of Degree: $15,700
Expenses: $23,642
Starting Salary: $55,400
Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Rowan University known for?

Rowan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Medical
Nursing
Education
Engineering
Communications
Chemistry
Literature
Social Work
Biology
Physics

Most Influential Alumni

Patti Smith
Joseph Renzulli
Trymaine Lee
Marvin Creamer
Kenneth Lacovara
Deirdre Breakenridge
Gloria Bonilla-Santiago
Lince Dorado
Fred H. Madden
Matt Bush
Michael John Trotta
Compare school
#8
Rutgers University–New Brunswick
New Brunswick , NJ
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2026 #6 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2026 #10 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2026 #7 Best Online Master's Programs in New Jersey 2026
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
66%
Graduation
84%
Student body
57K
Median SAT/ACT
1375/30
Career Outlook for degree at Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Cost of Degree: $17,239
Expenses: $20,478
Starting Salary: $68,100
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Rutgers University–New Brunswick known for?

Rutgers University–New Brunswick’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Economics
Philosophy
Mathematics
Psychology
Literature
Political Science
Chemistry
Sociology
History

Most Influential Alumni

John Iacono
Henry Levin
Eddie Jordan
Jim Valvano
Scott Rivkees
Susan Morey
Abraham Clearfield
Laurie Marhoefer
Dahntay Jones
Kenneth G. Miller
Steve Kaplan
James Bailey
Compare school
#9
Rutgers University–Newark
Newark , NJ
#9 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2026 #9 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2026
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
66%
Student body
14K
Career Outlook for degree at Rutgers University–Newark
Cost of Degree: $16,586
Expenses: $20,823
Starting Salary: $68,100
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Rutgers University–Newark known for?

Rutgers University–Newark’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Social Work
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Sociology
Anthropology
Economics
Medical

Most Influential Alumni

James Credle
Compare school

Find the Best Research Universities in New Jersey for Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 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.

New Jersey’s research universities concentrate doctoral programs, dedicated research centers, and collaborations with industry and government across biotech, engineering, public health, and the social sciences. This guide highlights institutions whose graduate activity, sustained research funding, and organized research infrastructure drive sustained scholarly output and real-world application. Below you’ll find the institutions that stand out in the state for doctoral training, cross-disciplinary centers, and partnerships that translate discovery into practice—covering public and private campuses and a range of research specializations. For context on similar institutions nationwide, see our directory of research universities by state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Research Universities in New Jersey 2026

10 Best Research Universities in New Jersey 2026

Colleges and Universities in New Jersey

What are New Jersey’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Research Universities in New Jersey 2023

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for degree at Princeton University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Stevens Institute of Technology

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Seton Hall University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Rutgers University–Camden

Most Influential Alumni

Rutgers University–Camden’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at New Jersey Institute of Technology

Most Influential Alumni

New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Montclair State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Rowan University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Rutgers University–New Brunswick

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Rutgers University–Newark

Most Influential Alumni

Find the Best Research Universities in New Jersey for Your Area of Interest