Best colleges in New Jersey

·Stacker

Joyseulay // Shutterstock
Joyseulay // Shutterstock

Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.

While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on.

While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.

Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in New Jersey using 2027 rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are among the factors considered in deciding these rankings. Online schools were excluded from the rankings. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.

Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.

You may also like: Highest-rated Class of 2026 women's basketball recruits from New Jersey

#10. Rowan University

jakkaje879 // Shutterstock

1 / 10

#10. Rowan University

- Location: Glassboro, NJ
- Niche Grade: B
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- SAT Range: 1110-1310

#9. Seton Hall University

4 PM production // Shutterstock

2 / 10

#9. Seton Hall University

- Location: South Orange, NJ
- Niche Grade: B+
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- SAT Range: 1220-1390

#8. Rutgers University - Newark

DavidPinoPhotography // Shutterstock

3 / 10

#8. Rutgers University - Newark

- Location: Newark, NJ
- Niche Grade: B+
- Acceptance Rate: 71%
- SAT Range: 1030-1270

#7. The College of New Jersey

Motortion Films // Shutterstock

4 / 10

#7. The College of New Jersey

- Location: Ewing, NJ
- Niche Grade: B+
- Acceptance Rate: 62%
- SAT Range: 1140-1340

#6. Kean University

mangpor2004 // Shutterstock

5 / 10

#6. Kean University

- Location: Union, NJ
- Niche Grade: B+
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- SAT Range: 930-1160

You may also like: Best NFL players born in New Jersey

#5. Rutgers University–Camden

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

6 / 10

#5. Rutgers University–Camden

- Location: Camden, NJ
- Niche Grade: A-
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- SAT Range: 1050-1300

#4. New Jersey Institute of Technology

Sean Locke Photography // Shutterstock

7 / 10

#4. New Jersey Institute of Technology

- Location: Newark, NJ
- Niche Grade: A-
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- SAT Range: 1210-1460

#3. Stevens Institute of Technology

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

8 / 10

#3. Stevens Institute of Technology

- Location: Hoboken, NJ
- Niche Grade: A-
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- SAT Range: 1380-1510

#2. Rutgers University–New Brunswick

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

9 / 10

#2. Rutgers University–New Brunswick

- Location: Piscataway, NJ
- Niche Grade: A
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- SAT Range: 1310-1500

#1. Princeton University

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

10 / 10

#1. Princeton University

- Location: Princeton, NJ
- Niche Grade: A+
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- SAT Range: 1510-1580

You may also like: Hottest Octobers in New Jersey since 1895