Ranking

Most Selective Colleges in New Jersey by Acceptance Rate 2026

The hardest New Jersey colleges to get into — ranked by lowest undergraduate acceptance.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $5,356
Top earnings 10y: $110,066
Public / Private: 11 / 12

Princeton University

A+

Princeton, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 4.6%
Net price: $6,128
Earnings 10y: $110,066
Acceptance: 4.6%

Talmudical Academy-New Jersey

A+

Adelphia, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 43.5%
Net price: $6,164
Earnings 10y: $40,344
Acceptance: 43.5%

Yeshiva Toras Chaim

A+

Lakewood, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 44.3%
Net price: $5,356
Earnings 10y: $62,526
Acceptance: 44.3%

Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoboken, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 47.6%
Net price: $41,346
Earnings 10y: $108,772
Acceptance: 47.6%

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 58.2%
Net price: $24,406
Earnings 10y: $74,479
Acceptance: 58.2%

The College of New Jersey

Ewing, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 62.3%
Net price: $27,646
Earnings 10y: $73,323
Acceptance: 62.3%

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Newark, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 65.1%
Net price: $16,504
Earnings 10y: $84,276
Acceptance: 65.1%

Rutgers University-Camden

Camden, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 66.3%
Net price: $18,745
Earnings 10y: $74,479
Acceptance: 66.3%

Jersey College

Teterboro, NJ · Private For-Profit

Acceptance: 67.6%
Net price: $52,558
Earnings 10y: $66,087
Acceptance: 67.6%

#10

Drew University

Madison, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 67.8%
Net price: $24,280
Earnings 10y: $63,646
Acceptance: 67.8%

#11

Eastern International College-Jersey City

Jersey City, NJ · Private For-Profit

Acceptance: 69.6%
Net price: $21,111
Earnings 10y: $35,008
Acceptance: 69.6%

#12

Bloomfield College of Montclair State University

Bloomfield, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 69.7%
Net price: $28,014
Earnings 10y: $61,415
Acceptance: 69.7%

#13

Ramapo College of New Jersey

Mahwah, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 70.6%
Net price: $18,173
Earnings 10y: $67,541
Acceptance: 70.6%

#14

Saint Elizabeth University

Morristown, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 71%
Net price: $23,125
Earnings 10y: $53,038
Acceptance: 71%

#15

Caldwell University

Caldwell, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 71.3%
Net price: $24,691
Earnings 10y: $53,843
Acceptance: 71.3%

#16

Rutgers University-Newark

Newark, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 71.4%
Net price: $19,703
Earnings 10y: $74,479
Acceptance: 71.4%

#17

Seton Hall University

South Orange, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 73.3%
Net price: $31,446
Earnings 10y: $70,196
Acceptance: 73.3%

#18

Kean University

Union, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 75.9%
Net price: $12,447
Earnings 10y: $57,237
Acceptance: 75.9%

#19

Rowan University

Glassboro, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 77.7%
Net price: $22,408
Earnings 10y: $59,988
Acceptance: 77.7%

#20

Rider University

Lawrenceville, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 78.6%
Net price: $24,792
Earnings 10y: $62,208
Acceptance: 78.6%

#21

Georgian Court University

Lakewood, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 78.8%
Net price: $19,285
Earnings 10y: $53,096
Acceptance: 78.8%

#22

Centenary University

Hackettstown, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 83.1%
Net price: $20,503
Earnings 10y: $53,726
Acceptance: 83.1%

#23

Yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok

Elizabeth, NJ · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 86.2%
Net price: $28,599
Earnings 10y: $82,560
Acceptance: 86.2%

#24

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 87.9%
Net price: $15,566
Earnings 10y: $61,415
Acceptance: 87.9%

#25

Stockton University

Galloway, NJ · Public

Acceptance: 88.9%
Net price: $20,670
Earnings 10y: $57,602
Acceptance: 88.9%

How we picked this list

This list starts with New Jersey colleges that report a standard admission rate, then sorts by acceptance rate. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 10.03 (11 public, 12 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Princeton University in Princeton, NJ tops this ranking. Acceptance rate is 4.6%.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by acceptance using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many New Jersey colleges are in this list?

32 New Jersey colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.