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Most affordable public universities in New Jersey

12 public universities in New Jersey report net price data, ranging from $11,593 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $17,387. New Jersey's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in New Jersey

$17,387

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in New Jersey

12

The most affordable public universities in New Jersey, ranked by net price

1

Kean University

NJ

Net price

$11,593

Receive grant aid

91%

2

New Jersey City University

NJ

Net price

$12,157

Receive grant aid

92%

3

Montclair State University

NJ

Net price

$13,880

Receive grant aid

78%

4

New Jersey Institute of Technology

NJ

Net price

$16,736

Receive grant aid

90%

5

William Paterson University of New Jersey

NJ

Net price

$16,999

Receive grant aid

83%

6

Ramapo College of New Jersey

NJ

Net price

$17,348

Receive grant aid

66%

7

Rutgers University-Newark

NJ

Net price

$17,425

Receive grant aid

77%

8

Rutgers University-Camden

NJ

Net price

$18,735

Receive grant aid

93%

9

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

NJ

Net price

$19,052

Receive grant aid

52%

10

Stockton University

NJ

Net price

$19,752

Receive grant aid

92%

11

Rowan University

NJ

Net price

$22,237

Receive grant aid

85%

12

The College of New Jersey

NJ

Net price

$22,379

Receive grant aid

62%

What makes a school affordable here

In New Jersey, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Kean University, the most affordable on this list, 91% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in New Jersey, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →