by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a grad degree. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top New Jersey Colleges for a Master's ranking - to help you make that decision.
What's on This Page: * Our Methodology
After analyzing 26 grad schools in New Jersey, we came up with our list of those that offered the best master's degree programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best grad schools. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. While master's degree recipients from schools in New Jersey earn an average starting salary of $61,237, those from the top 25 school on this list made an average of $63,248.
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their master's degree. The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Our Best Master's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt. These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
To learn more, visit our graduate school ranking methodology page.
Thinking about continuing your education further? Check out our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Princeton University the best grad school in New Jersey in terms of overall quality for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 605 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Princeton is $75,130 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stevens Institute of Technology. The school came in at #2 in New Jersey on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Stevens is located in Hoboken, New Jersey and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,611 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Stevens go into careers with an average salary of $86,039 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 26 master’s degree schools in New Jersey that were part of this year’s ranking, Rutgers University - New Brunswick landed the #3 spot on the list. This large public school is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and it awarded 3,092 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Rutgers New Brunswick is $58,278 during the early years of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The College of New Jersey. The school came in at #4 in New Jersey on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. TCNJ is a medium-sized public school situated in Ewing, New Jersey. It awarded 377 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from TCNJ make an average of $54,876 per year during the early years of their career.
Out of the 26 master’s degree schools in New Jersey that were part of this year’s ranking, New Jersey Institute of Technology landed the #5 spot on the list. NJIT is a fairly large public school situated in Newark, New Jersey. It awarded 939 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from NJIT make an average of $81,502 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #6, Rutgers University - Newark did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey list. Rutgers University - Newark is a fairly large public school located in Newark, New Jersey that handed out 1,266 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Rutgers Newark make an average of $54,022 per year during the early years of their career.
Rider University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. Rider is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. It awarded 282 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Rider make an average of $54,433 a year.
With a ranking of #8, Montclair State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey list. Montclair, New Jersey is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 1,405 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Montclair State go into careers with an average salary of $55,542 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #9, Seton Hall University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey list. South Orange, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 1,072 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Seton Hall make an average of $66,234 a year.
Rowan University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #10. This fairly large public school is located in Glassboro, New Jersey, and it awarded 753 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Rowan go into careers with an average salary of $59,498 during the early years of their career.
Monmouth University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. Located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 535 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $63,672 during the early years of their career.
William Paterson University of New Jersey came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. William Paterson University is a public institution located in Wayne, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 419 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $64,597 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on William Paterson University of New Jersey
Stockton University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey list. This medium-sized public school is located in Galloway, New Jersey, and it awarded 314 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Stockton State make an average of $57,701 a year.
Kean University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Union, New Jersey, and it awarded 598 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Kean is $58,347 during the early years of their career.
Ramapo College of New Jersey ranked #15 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey list. Ramapo College of New Jersey is a medium-sized public school located in Mahwah, New Jersey that handed out 265 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Ramapo College is $65,448 during the early years of their career.
Rutgers University - Camden landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. Located in Camden, New Jersey, the medium-sized public school handed out 322 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a master’s degree from Rutgers Camden go into careers with an average salary of $59,937 during the early years of their career.
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Teaneck, New Jersey that handed out 582 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $59,666 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus
Felician University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. Felician is located in Lodi, New Jersey and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 117 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Felician is $77,007 during the early years of their career.
College of Saint Elizabeth landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking. CSE is a private not-for-profit institution located in Morristown, New Jersey. The school has a small population, and it awarded 121 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from CSE make an average of $56,166 a year.
With a ranking of #20, Georgian Court University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey list. Georgian Court is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lakewood, New Jersey. The school has a small population, and it awarded 205 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $57,417 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #21, New Jersey City University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey list. This medium-sized public school is located in Jersey City, New Jersey, and it awarded 487 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $55,711 during the early years of their career.
Thomas Edison State University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey list. Located in Trenton, New Jersey, the medium-sized public school handed out 181 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from TESU make an average of $90,184 per year during the early years of their career.
Berkeley College - Woodland Park did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #23. Berkeley College - Woodland Park is a small private for-profit school located in Woodland Park, New Jersey that handed out 72 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Berkeley College - Woodland Park make an average of $57,067 per year during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #24, Caldwell University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey list. Located in Caldwell, New Jersey, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 120 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Caldwell make an average of $54,372 per year during the early years of their career.
Saint Peter’s University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in New Jersey ranking, coming in at #25. Jersey City, New Jersey is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 264 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Saint Peter’s College is $58,358 during the early years of their career.
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More about our data sources and methodologies.