U.S. News & World Report’s eagerly awaited 2026 rankings of the country’s best universities is out and once again, New Jersey’s Ivy League school took the nation’s top spot. All three of Rutgers University’s campuses also made the list U.S. News & World Report’s top colleges for New Jersey for 2026.
Princeton University often sits at the top of college lists. Princeton is also ranked No. 1 for Best Value Schools.
- No. 1 in the national university list
- No. 1 in Best Value Schools
- No. 11 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)
- $65,210 tuition
- 5,813 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 1510-1580 SAT scores / 34-35 ACT scores
- 3.9 high school GPA
- 5 percent acceptance rate
No. 2 is Rutgers University, specifically the New Brunswick campus, which is spread across the Cook, Douglass, Busch, College Avenue and Livingston Avenue campuses.
- No. 42 in the national university list
- No. 16 in Top Public Schools
- No. 175 in Best Value Schools
- $18,827 in-state tuition
- 37,985 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 1310-1500 SAT scores / 28-33 ACT scores
- 41 percent acceptance rate
Right behind at No. 3 is the Newark campus of Rutgers. By the numbers, the Newark campus is No. 1 in the northeast for student diversity, according to Wall Street Journal College Rankings, 2023; No. 10 best bang for the buck in the northeast, according to Washington Monthly, 2023; No. 20 best Hispanic-serving institution in America, according to Niche, 2024; and No. 5 for social mobility, according to USN.
- No. 75 in the national university list
- No. 36 in Top Public Schools
- No. 162 in Best Value Schools
- $18,112 in-state tuition
- 7,989 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 71 percent acceptance rate
No. 4, also in Newark, is the New Jersey Institute of Technology. NJIT puts a huge focus on STEM education, research, economic development and service.
- No. 80 in the national university list (tie)
- No. 40 in Top Public Schools
- No. 83 in Best Value Schools
- $21,162 in-state tuition
- 10,200 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 1240-1480 SAT scores / 29-35 ACT scores
- 65 percent acceptance rate
No. 5, Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken is another STEM-forward college, with dozens of career paths focused on research, innovation and experiential learning.
- No. 80 in the national university list (tie)
- No. 70 in Best Value Schools
- $65,606 tuition
- 4,204 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 1380-1505 SAT scores / 31-34 ACT scores
- 48 percent acceptance rate
The third campus of Rutgers, Camden, placed 6th on the list. There is a 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio; 91 percent of graduates are employed or enrolled in a graduate program within 6 months of graduation; and 88.9 percent of students receive financial aid.
- No. 97 in the national university list (tie)
- No. 46 in Top Public Schools (tie)
- No. 145 in Best Value Schools
- No. 15 Top Performers on Social Mobility
- No. 63 Best Colleges for Veterans
- No. 74 Undergraduate Nursing Program
- No. 147 Undergraduate Business Program
- $18,651 in-state tuition
- 3,857 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 1050-1300 Â SAT scores / 19-25 ACT scores
- 66 percent acceptance rate
No. 7, Montclair State University, has more than 300 undergrad programs. MSU is ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and No. 12 in the country among America’s Top Online Colleges, according to Newsweek.
- No. 158 in the national university list (tie)
- No. 84 in Top Public Schools (tie)
- No. 177 in Best Value Schools
- $16,854 in-state tuition
- 18,712 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 910-1210 SAT scores
- 88 percent acceptance rate
Another private school, Seton Hall University in South Orange, ranked 8th in the Jersey list. Seton Hall is the No. 1 NJ Catholic University, is Top 5 in internships nationally (offering more than 17,000 work experiences), is the best private university in New Jersey for jobs, and offers financial aid to 98 percent of its students, according to the school’s website.
- No. 158 in the national university list (tie)
- No. 118 in Nursing (tie)
- $55,040 tuition
- 6,146 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 1220-1390 SAT scores / 27-32 ACT scores
- 73 percent acceptance rate
Ninth on the list is Stockton University, which is a public school located on the 1,600-acre campus in the Pinelands in Galloway, but also has outposts in Atlantic City, Hammonton and Manahawkin.
- No. 158 in the national university list (tie)
- No. 84 in Top Public Schools (tie)
- No. 181 in Best Value Schools
- $16,754 in-state tuition
- 7,565 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 1030-1230 SAT scores / 21-25 ACT scores
- 89 percent acceptance rate
No. 10, Rowan University in Glassboro, is known for its business, technology and medical programs. Programs range from arts and communication to business and engineering to humanities and professional studies to medicine and science.
- No. 169 in the national university list (tie)
- No. 92 in Top Public Schools (tie)
- No. 114 in Best Value Schools
- $16,754 in-state tuition
- 7,565 undergraduate enrollment, as of Fall 2024
- 1030-1230 SAT scores / 21-25 ACT scores
- 78 percent acceptance rate
These are the 10 Best Colleges in New Jersey for 2026, according to U.S. News & World Report:
- Princeton University
- Rutgers University – New Brunswick
- Rutgers University – Newark
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Rutgers University – Camden
- Montclair State University
- Seton Hall University
- Stockton University
- Rowan University
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