2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey
22
Ranked Colleges
5,847
Degrees Awarded
$18,600
Avg Net Price*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
With 327,871 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, education is the 4th most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $46,202 and had an average of $24,437 in loans still to pay off.
Across New Jersey, there were 5,847 education graduates with average earnings and debt of $52,572 and $23,047 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in education. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent education programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the education program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Education Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Education in New Jersey
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey that were part of this year’s ranking, The College of New Jersey landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Ewing, New Jersey, this medium-sized public school awarded 725 diplomas to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
TCNJ not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list. The yearly cost to attend TCNJ is $28,245 for New Jersey Education students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full TCNJ Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Essex County College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey. Essex is a medium-sized public school situated in Newark, New Jersey. It awarded 84 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Essex, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. It costs about $7,871 for New Jersey Education students per year to attend Essex County College.
Full Essex Education Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Camden County College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey. Camden County College is a medium-sized public school situated in Blackwood, New Jersey. It awarded 86 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Camden County College also made our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list, coming in at #19. It costs about $6,083 for New Jersey Education students per year to attend Camden County College.
Read more about Education at Camden County College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Montclair State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey list. Montclair State is a public institution located in Montclair, New Jersey. The school has a large population, and it awarded 751 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Montclair State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list. It costs about $17,381 for new jersey education students per year to attend Montclair State University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Education at Montclair State University
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey that were part of this year’s ranking, William Paterson University of New Jersey landed the #5 spot on the list. William Paterson University is located in Wayne, New Jersey and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 291 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
William Paterson University also made our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for William Paterson University is $18,498 for New Jersey Education students.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full William Paterson University of New Jersey Education Report
Rutgers University - New Brunswick landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking. Rutgers New Brunswick is a large public school situated in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It awarded 335 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Rutgers New Brunswick also took the #3 spot in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. It costs about $23,035 for New Jersey Education students per year to attend Rutgers University - New Brunswick.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Rutgers University - New Brunswick Education Report
Kean University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking. Kean is a public institution located in Union, New Jersey. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 459 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Kean, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kean is $18,191 for new jersey education students.
Read more about Education at Kean University
Rowan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #8. Rowan is located in Glassboro, New Jersey and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 593 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
Rowan also made our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $27,158 for new jersey education students per year to attend Rowan.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Rowan Education Report
With a ranking of #9, Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey list. Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester Campus is a medium-sized school located in Sewell, New Jersey that handed out 102 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
RCSJ also made our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $7,987 for New Jersey Education students per year to attend RCSJ.
Read more about Education at Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester Campus
Stockton University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #10. Stockton State is a medium-sized school located in Galloway, New Jersey that handed out 75 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new jersey education students list, Stockton State has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Stockton State is $21,404 for New Jersey Education students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Education at Stockton State
With a ranking of #11, Brookdale Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey list. Brookdale Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Lincroft, New Jersey. It awarded 126 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Brookdale Community College also took the #21 spot in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. It costs about $9,351 for New Jersey Education students per year to attend Brookdale Community College.
Read more about Education at Brookdale Community College
With a ranking of #12, Centenary University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey list. Hackettstown, New Jersey is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 116 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new jersey education students list, Centenary has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. It costs about $16,105 for New Jersey Education students per year to attend Centenary University.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Education at Centenary University
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in Teaneck, New Jersey, and it awarded 45 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
FDU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list. The yearly cost to attend FDU is $12,069 for new jersey education students.
Read full report on Education at FDU
Ramapo College of New Jersey came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking. Ramapo College of New Jersey is a medium-sized public school situated in Mahwah, New Jersey. It awarded 135 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new jersey education students list, Ramapo College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ramapo College is $21,707 for new jersey education students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Education at Ramapo College
With a ranking of #15, New Jersey City University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey list. This medium-sized school is located in Jersey City, New Jersey, and it awarded 273 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
NJCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list. It costs about $13,297 for New Jersey Education students per year to attend New Jersey City University.
Read more about Education at NJCU
With a ranking of #16, Georgian Court University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey list. Georgian Court is located in Lakewood, New Jersey and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 150 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
Georgian Court not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list. The estimated yearly cost for Georgian Court is $20,312 for new jersey education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Education at Georgian Court University
Rutgers University - Camden landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking. Rutgers Camden is located in Camden, New Jersey and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 45 ’s education degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rutgers Camden, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rutgers University - Camden is $16,369 for new jersey education students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about Education at Rutgers Camden
Rider University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey list. Lawrenceville, New Jersey is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s education degrees to 335 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new jersey education students list, Rider has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Rider is $27,882 for new jersey education students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Rider University Education Report
Caldwell University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking. Caldwell is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Caldwell, New Jersey. It awarded 43 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new jersey education students list, Caldwell has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Caldwell University is $20,175 for New Jersey Education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Education at Caldwell University
Saint Peter’s University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 172 degrees to qualified ’s education students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new jersey education students list, Saint Peter’s College has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Peter’s University is $12,470 for New Jersey Education students.
Full Saint Peter’s College Education Report
Seton Hall University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking. Seton Hall University is a private not-for-profit institution located in South Orange, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 242 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our new jersey education students list, Seton Hall has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” ranking. It costs about $32,634 for new jersey education students per year to attend Seton Hall.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Education at Seton Hall University
Monmouth University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Education Schools in New Jersey ranking. This medium-sized school is located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, and it awarded 184 ’s education degrees in 2020-2021.
Monmouth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Education Schools in New Jersey” list. The estimated yearly cost for Monmouth University is $29,877 for new jersey education students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Monmouth Education Report
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Horadrim.