New Jersey education is once again in the spotlight. Six NJ colleges were just named the top 100 in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, released Tuesday. The list assessed over 1,700 institutions using multiple measures of academic quality, social mobility and post-graduate outcomes.
Princeton University was deemed the cream of the crop once again, topping both the state and the nation at number one. Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranked 42nd, Rutgers-Newark came in at 75th, and Rutgers-Camden placed 97th. The New Jersey Institute of Technology and Stevens Institute of Technology tied at 80th.
Other state schools appeared in the rankings lower on the list, including Montclair State University, Seton Hall University, and Stockton University, all tied at 158th, Rowan University at 169th, and Kean University at 318th.
U.S. News also highlighted specialty rankings, evaluating colleges for innovation, undergraduate teaching, social mobility, and programs that enhance student experiences, including study abroad, research and service learning.
Princeton earned high marks in specific undergraduate programs, ranking second in Economics, third in Teaching, and fifth in Computer Science. Rutgers-New Brunswick placed 54th in Computer Science, 62nd in Economics, and 77th in Business.
LaMont Jones, managing editor for Education at U.S. News, said the rankings have served as a trusted resource for more than 40 years, helping students and families navigate the difficult process of selecting a college. The rankings reflect the constantly evolving landscape of higher education and provide a starting point for identifying schools that match academic and personal goals, while also placing a heavy focus on post-graduate success. And to no one’s surprise, New Jersey presents plenty of options that fit the bill.
The Top 10 Colleges in the Nation
The top 10 universities in the nation for 2026 are led by Princeton at the number one spot, followed by MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, the University of Chicago, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, and the University of Pennsylvania.
More New Jersey Education
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