Choosing an in-state public college can mean lower tuition and strong local job prospects—and two New Jersey schools just earned national praise for offering great value and strong outcomes.
Money magazine recently released its list of the Best Public Colleges in the U.S. The unranked, alphabetized list for 2025 includes the top 87 schools (out of 700 evaluated) based on top values, graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries and more. The public colleges provide value for students in their home states, all scoring within the top 30 percent of the 2025-26 rankings.
The New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark is a polytechnic university that focuses on STEM education, research, economic development and service. NJIT is ranked the No. 1 public university for alumni earnings, economic mobility and academic profile, according to the New York Times; and is a Top 50 Public National University, according to U.S. News & World Report, as cited on the school’s website. There are degrees offered in architecture & design, business, computing, engineering, humanities & liberal arts, and math & science.
According to Money, the estimated price – with average aid – is $17,800. The graduation rate is 80 percent. The median student debt is $21,000. The typical early career earnings is $84,280.
“We are very proud that Money has, once again, ranked NJIT among the best universities in the nation and behind only Princeton in the state of New Jersey [overall],” Matthew Golden, vice president for Communications at NJIT, tells New Jersey Family.
“As the greatest producer of technological knowledge and talent in our state, NJIT fills a unique role in higher education. We are preparing the workforce and the professional leaders who drive our regional and global economy, and we are a nexus of innovation that produces research aimed at solving real-world problems in the life sciences, health care and medical devices, civil infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, national defense and many other fields,” he says.
The College of New Jersey in Ewing offers degree programs through its seven schools: Arts and Communication; Business; Education; Engineering; Humanities and Social Sciences; Nursing, Health & Exercise Science; and Science.
TCNJ offers more than 160 undergraduate programs, including majors, minors, concentration areas and certificates — including accelerated and dual-degree programs that are on track to a master’s or professional degree.
With approximately 7,000 students, there is a 13-to-a student-to-faculty ratio, and 200+ student organizations. Ninety percent of students return for their sophomore year. TCNJ has the 9th highest four-year graduate rate among the country’s traditional four-year public universities, according to IPEDS in 2022, as cited on the school’s website.
According to Money, the estimated price – with average aid – is $23,700. The graduation rate is 86 percent. The median student debt is $23,250. The typical early career earnings is $73,320.
“At TCNJ, we are committed to providing the highest quality education for our students at a value price point. We appreciate Money recognizing those efforts in its rankings,” a spokesman for TCNJ tells New Jersey Family.
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