2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in New Jersey
[Sustainability Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for sustainability science students.
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2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sustainability science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sustainability Science Schools
For return on investment in sustainability science, no school beat Montclair State University this year. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $25,286. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $41,445. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the rural area of Galloway. In-state tuition and fees average $16,266, compared with $24,524 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $43,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey admits about 89% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Science graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans. Sustainability Science graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $65,944 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,120 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stevens Institute Of Technology earned it the #4 place for sustainability science. Set in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $63,462 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,767 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $87,055. Set against $26,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
