2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in New Jersey
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in New Jersey? Our ranking highlights 149 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed 111 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in New Jersey
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Our analysis found Princeton University to be the best Graduate Degrees school in New Jersey. Located in Princeton, NJ, Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 98%. Students from in state pay about $62,688 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Princeton University
The College Of New Jersey came in at #2 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in New Jersey. This public school is set in Ewing, NJ. The College Of New Jersey posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,632, while out-of-state students pay about $25,752. Students borrow a median of $24,429 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full The College Of New Jersey report
The strong Graduate Degrees programs at Rutgers University Newark earned it the #3 place in New Jersey. Located in Newark, NJ, Rutgers University Newark is a public institution. Rutgers University Newark graduates 64% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,762. Students borrow a median of $25,065 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read the full report on Rutgers University Newark
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in New Jersey. Located in Hoboken, NJ, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Stevens Institute Of Technology graduates 87% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $63,462. Students borrow a median of $26,767 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Stevens Institute Of Technology
Rider University came in at #5 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in New Jersey. Set in Lawrenceville, NJ, Rider University is a private not-for-profit institution. Rider University posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. Students from in state pay about $41,120 in tuition and fees. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $26,241. Get the full Rider University report
New Jersey Institute Of Technology landed the #6 spot in New Jersey this year. Based in Newark, NJ, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a public institution. About 73% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,974, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $24,755. See the full New Jersey Institute Of Technology profile
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Set in New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans. Read more about Rutgers University New Brunswick
Seton Hall University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit school based in South Orange, NJ. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $53,170. Students borrow a median of $23,422 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read more about Seton Hall University
Montclair State University placed #9 among Graduate Degrees schools in New Jersey. Montclair State University is a public school based in Montclair, NJ. Montclair State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read the full report on Montclair State University
Monmouth University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Based in West Long Branch, NJ, Monmouth University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,552. Monmouth University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,847 in debt. More on Monmouth University
Rutgers University Camden ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Camden, NJ, Rutgers University Camden is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $17,764, compared with $37,276 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,577 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Rutgers University Camden
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey did well this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in Galloway, NJ. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,266, with out-of-state students paying around $24,524. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $24,990 in debt. Get the full The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey report
Rowan University placed #13 among Graduate Degrees schools in New Jersey. This public school is set in Glassboro, NJ. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $16,574 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Rowan University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $24,488 in debt. Read more about Rowan University
Kean University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Located in Union, NJ, Kean University is a public institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,299, with out-of-state students paying around $22,446. Students borrow a median of $26,703 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read more about Kean University
Georgian Court University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Lakewood, NJ, Georgian Court University is a private not-for-profit institution. Georgian Court University posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. Students from in state pay about $37,110 in tuition and fees. Georgian Court University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $24,752 in debt. Read more about Georgian Court University
William Paterson University Of New Jersey ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. This public school is set in Wayne, NJ. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,704, compared with $25,344 for out-of-state students. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $25,644. More on William Paterson University Of New Jersey
College Of Saint Elizabeth did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Morristown, NJ, College Of Saint Elizabeth is a private not-for-profit institution. College Of Saint Elizabeth posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,740. Students borrow a median of $25,496 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read the full report on College Of Saint Elizabeth
New Jersey City University landed the #18 spot in New Jersey this year. This public school is set in Jersey City, NJ. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,460. New Jersey City University Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $22,107 in debt. See the full New Jersey City University profile
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus landed the #19 spot in New Jersey this year. Located in Teaneck, NJ, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit institution. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 54%. In-state tuition and fees average $37,010. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $24,770 in debt. Read more about Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus
Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Madison, NJ, Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham is a private not-for-profit institution. Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,468. Students borrow a median of $24,701 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full Fairleigh Dickinson University College At Florham report
Felician College landed the #21 spot in New Jersey this year. Located in Lodi, NJ, Felician College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,300. Students borrow a median of $28,500 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. More on Felician College
Caldwell College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Caldwell College is a private not-for-profit school based in Caldwell, NJ. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $40,848. Caldwell College Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $26,188 in debt. Get the full Caldwell College report
Saint Peters College placed #23 among Graduate Degrees schools in New Jersey. Based in Jersey City, NJ, Saint Peters College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $42,552 in tuition and fees. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $22,969. More on Saint Peters College
Thomas Edison State College landed the #24 spot in New Jersey this year. Thomas Edison State College is a public school based in Trenton, NJ. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,838, compared with $8,856 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,149 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. See the full Thomas Edison State College profile
Yeshiva Chemdas Hatorah ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Yeshiva Chemdas Hatorah
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in New Jersey
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Jersey College
Jersey College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Jersey College
Rabbi Jacob Joseph School landed the #27 spot in New Jersey this year. Read the full report on Rabbi Jacob Joseph School
St Francis Medical Center School Of Radiologic Technology came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Get the full St Francis Medical Center School Of Radiologic Technology report
Sussex County Community College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Sussex County Community College
Healthcare Training Institute Union came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about Healthcare Training Institute Union
New Community Workforce Development Center came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on New Community Workforce Development Center
Lincoln Technical Institute Mahwah placed #32 among Graduate Degrees schools in New Jersey. More on Lincoln Technical Institute Mahwah
Hudson County Community College landed the #33 spot in New Jersey this year. See the full Hudson County Community College profile
Mobile Technical Training placed #34 among Graduate Degrees schools in New Jersey. See the full Mobile Technical Training profile
Chamberlain University New Jersey came in at #35 in this year's ranking. More on Chamberlain University New Jersey
Cumberland County College did well this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Cumberland County College profile
Empire Beauty School Bloomfield did well this year, earning the #37 position. More on Empire Beauty School Bloomfield
Asi Career Institute landed the #38 spot in New Jersey this year. Read more about Asi Career Institute
American Institute Somerset ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on American Institute Somerset
Warren County Community College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. See the full Warren County Community College profile
Pro Beauty Academy The Kenilworth did well this year, earning the #41 position. Read the full report on Pro Beauty Academy The Kenilworth
Atlantic Cape Community College came in at #42 in this year's ranking. See the full Atlantic Cape Community College profile
Centenary College did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Centenary College
Camden County College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Camden County College
Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness did well this year, earning the #45 position. Read more about Rizzieri Aveda School For Beauty And Wellness
Union County College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Union County College
Pc Age Metropark
Pc Age Metropark came in at #47 in this year's ranking. More on Pc Age Metropark
Lincoln Technical Institute South Plainfield did well this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Lincoln Technical Institute South Plainfield profile
Raritan Valley Community College placed #49 among Graduate Degrees schools in New Jersey. Read the full report on Raritan Valley Community College
Salon Professional Academy came in at #50 in this year's ranking. More on Salon Professional Academy
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 111 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 149 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).