While college-bound students often seek to spread their wings, tens of thousands choose to remain in New Jersey each year to take advantage of in-state tuition and highly ranked programs.
Students who enroll in one of New Jersey’s four-year public colleges and universities benefit from in-state tuition, which can reduce the cost by more than 50%. At Rutgers – New Brunswick, for example, the tuition for state residents in 2024-25 was $17,929 while out-of-state students paid $37,441. Academically, Rutgers – New Brunswick ranks No. 15 of the Top Public National Universities, according to U.S. News & World Report, ahead of such notable institutions as University of Maryland, Purdue University, University of Georgia, and Virgina Tech.
Substantial in-state discounts are likewise in place at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Rowan University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Montclair State University, Kean University, and more.
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Fortunately, local students are not sacrificing educational rigor as many New Jersey schools, both public and private, offer impressive, highly ranked programs.
Princeton University, ranked No. 1 Best National University by U.S. News & World Report, has an extremely low acceptance rate of 4%. However, according to the University’s newspaper, The Daily Princetonian, nearly 17% of the incoming Class of 2025 hails from New Jersey. While excelling in all fields, Princeton’s most popular majors are Social Sciences, Engineering, and Computer & Information Sciences.
Another private Garden State institution, Stevens Institute of Technology, is particularly renown for its programs in Engineering which enroll 53% of the student body. Graduates, overall, move onto successful careers earning a median salary of $90,326 six years after graduation.
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New Jersey Institute of Technology, ranked in the Top 50 Public Universities Nationwide, is particularly noted for its programs in Engineering and Computer and Information Sciences. According to its website, the average starting salary for NJIT graduates is $82,232.
The College of New Jersey, ranked No. 1 Top Public Regional University – North, is best known for its programs in Business and Teaching. It also hosts a highly competitive seven-year direct entry medical program with Rutgers’ New Jersey Medical School.
Seton Hall, a Catholic university, is particularly attractive to local students pursuing health-related careers due to its five and six year dual-degree programs. Students can earn their bachelor’s and master’s degree in Athletic Training in five years, and their bachelor’s and advanced degree in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Speech-Language Pathology in six years.
New Jersey’s college-bound students would do well to research the opportunities within their state before contributing to the “brain drain” of those leaving the Garden State.
Susan Alaimo is the founder & director of Collegebound Review, offering PSAT/SAT® preparation & private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: These are the top-ranked New Jersey colleges | Opinion