The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) have been recognized by Money Magazine as two of the country’s best public colleges for 2025.
The list, released earlier this month, highlights 87 public institutions nationwide that offer strong academic outcomes at competitive costs. Schools were evaluated on factors including tuition cost, financial aid, graduation rates and alumni earnings, with each ranking in the top 30% of more than 700 colleges reviewed.
NJIT, a Newark-based polytechnic university, reported a graduation rate of 80% and median early career earnings of $84,280. The school’s estimated annual cost with average aid is $17,800, and median student debt is $21,000. NJIT offers programs in engineering, computing, architecture, business, and the sciences, and emphasizes research and innovation in fields ranging from artificial intelligence to national defense.
TCNJ, located in Ewing, has an 86% graduation rate and typical early career earnings of $73,320. Its estimated price with average aid is $23,700, with a median student debt of $23,250. The college enrolls about 7,000 students and offers more than 160 academic programs across seven schools, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13-to-1.
Together, they are the only public colleges in New Jersey to make the list.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.