Best Online Colleges in New Jersey 2023

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Sep 8, 2023

Find the best online colleges in New Jersey ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in New Jersey

Rutgers University–Camden
Fairleigh Dickinson University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Rider University
Kean University
Saint Peter's University
William Paterson University
Thomas Edison State University
Felician University

Saint Peter's University 93%
Felician University 92%
Fairleigh Dickinson University 85%
William Paterson University 83%
Rider University 82%
Rutgers University–Camden 79%
Kean University 79%
New Jersey Institute of Technology 69%

Thomas Edison State University 20 to 1
Kean University 18 to 1
New Jersey Institute of Technology 15 to 1
Rutgers University–Camden 15 to 1
Fairleigh Dickinson University 15 to 1
Felician University 14 to 1
Saint Peter's University 13 to 1
William Paterson University 13 to 1
Rider University 10 to 1

Saint Peter's University $38,760
Rider University $35,850
Felician University $35,700
Fairleigh Dickinson University $33,114
New Jersey Institute of Technology $14,790
William Paterson University $13,776
Rutgers University–Camden $12,536
Kean University $10,445
Thomas Edison State University $7,182

New Jersey Institute of Technology $21,342
Saint Peter's University $21,186
Rider University $19,599
Felician University $19,440
Rutgers University–Camden $18,168
Kean University $15,752
William Paterson University $13,618
Thomas Edison State University $12,024
Fairleigh Dickinson University $9,780

Felician University
Thomas Edison State University
William Paterson University
Saint Peter's University
Kean University
Rider University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Rutgers University–Camden

New Jersey Institute of Technology 69%
Kean University 79%
Rutgers University–Camden 79%
Rider University 82%
William Paterson University 83%
Fairleigh Dickinson University 85%
Felician University 92%
Saint Peter's University 93%

Rider University 10 to 1
Saint Peter's University 13 to 1
William Paterson University 13 to 1
Felician University 14 to 1
New Jersey Institute of Technology 15 to 1
Rutgers University–Camden 15 to 1
Fairleigh Dickinson University 15 to 1
Kean University 18 to 1
Thomas Edison State University 20 to 1

Thomas Edison State University $7,182
Kean University $10,445
Rutgers University–Camden $12,536
William Paterson University $13,776
New Jersey Institute of Technology $14,790
Fairleigh Dickinson University $33,114
Felician University $35,700
Rider University $35,850
Saint Peter's University $38,760

Fairleigh Dickinson University $9,780
Thomas Edison State University $12,024
William Paterson University $13,618
Kean University $15,752
Rutgers University–Camden $18,168
Felician University $19,440
Rider University $19,599
Saint Peter's University $21,186
New Jersey Institute of Technology $21,342

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

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

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2022

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Median Salaries of Top Careers in New Jersey

The following graph depicts the average salaries of top occupations in different industries in New Jersey.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

Annual Salary

124170Financial Risk Specialists

139990Computer Network Architects

159850Physicists

208440Petroleum Engineers

253150Chief Executives

Best Online Colleges in New Jersey 2022

#1
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark , NJ
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #2 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2023 #5 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2023 #5 Best Research Universities in New Jersey 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
69%
Graduation
74%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1295/28
Online Degrees
BS in Business

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-6 years
Format: Online
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#2
Saint Peter's University
Jersey City , NJ
#9 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2023 #17 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees #3 Best Christian Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #5 Best Small Colleges in New Jersey 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$39K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
58%
Student body
3K
Online Degrees
BSBA in Business Administration

Concentrations

Accounting
Business Management
Digital Marketing and Social Media
Healthcare Management
Human Resource Management
Sport, Event & Hospitality Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-6 years
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-6 years
Format: Online
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#3
William Paterson University
Wayne , NJ
#8 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #8 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2023 #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #5 Best Online MBA Programs in New Jersey
Other Rankings
- #9 Best Online Master's Programs in New Jersey 2023
- #19 Best Online Master’s in Educational Administration
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
56%
Student body
8K
Online Degrees
BA in Communication Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Disability Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Health Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Leadership and Professional Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Liberal Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Marketing

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Psychology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
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#4
Rider University
Lawrenceville , NJ
#3 Best Small Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #7 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #10 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
61%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/23
Online Degrees
BS in Allied Health Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BSBA in Business Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Liberal Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Organizational Psychology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Psychology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
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#5
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Teaneck , NJ
#1 Best Small Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2023 #4 Best Private Colleges in New Jersey 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$33K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
54%
Student body
4K
Online Degrees
BA in Degree Completion

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
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#6
Thomas Edison State University
Trenton , NJ
#4 Most Affordable Online Colleges Ranked for Students 2023 #7 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2023 #9 Best Schools for Becoming an Air Traffic Controller in 2023 #6 Best Small Colleges in New Jersey 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$7K
Student body
4K
Online Degrees
BSBA in Business Administration

Concentrations

Accounting
Accounting/CPA
Computer Information Systems
Entrepreneurship
Finance
General Management
Healthcare Management
Human Resource Management/Organizational Management
Marketing
Operations Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Communication

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Computer Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Criminal Justice

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Cybersecurity

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Data Science and Analytics

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Electrical Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Electronic Systems Engineering Technology

Required Credits: 124
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Energy Systems Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in English

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in History

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Information Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in International Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Liberal Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Mathematics

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Nuclear Energy Engineering Technology

Required Credits: 126
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing (RN-to-BSN)

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Organizational Leadership

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Professional Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Psychology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Radiation Protection/Health Physics

Required Credits: 125
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Sociology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Technical Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
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#7
Rutgers University–Camden
Camden , NJ
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #1 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2023 #4 Best Grad Schools in New Jersey 2023 #4 Best Research Universities in New Jersey 2023
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$16K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
71%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/20
Online Degrees
BBA in Business Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4-6 years
Format: Online
BA in Labor and Employment Relations

Required Credits: 120-128
Completion time: 4-6 years
Format: Online
BS in Nursing: RN to BSN

Required Credits: 121
Completion time: 4-6 years
Format: Online
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#8
Kean University
Union , NJ
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #6 Best Public Colleges New Jersey 2023 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Biology
Other Rankings
- #8 Best Online Master's Programs in New Jersey 2023
- #13 Best Online Master’s in Educational Administration
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
48%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1010/19
Online Degrees
BS in Accounting

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Biology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Criminal Justice

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Information Technology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Management

Concentrations

Entrepreneurship
Human Resources Management
Supply Chain
General Business

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Nursing

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BA in Psychology

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Public Health

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
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#9
Felician University
Lodi , NJ
#5 Best Christian Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #8 Best Small Colleges in New Jersey 2023 #15 Best Online Master's Programs in New Jersey 2023 #22 Best Online Bachelor's of Healthcare Administration Degree Programs for 2023
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
52%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
970/18
Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
BS in Professional Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion time: 4 years
Format: Online
Compare school

Best Online Colleges in New Jersey 2023

Top 10 Online Colleges in New Jersey

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in New Jersey

What are New Jersey’s Colleges & Universities?

Median Salaries of Top Careers in New Jersey

Best Online Colleges in New Jersey 2022

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Online Degrees