The Public Higher Education System of New Jersey
New Jersey’s public higher education system consists of three research universities, including its flagship university, Rutgers, eight state master’s and baccalaureate colleges and universities, and nineteen county community colleges.
Research Universities
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey: Arts and sciences, biological and life sciences, business, communication, information technology and journalism, engineering, environmental studies, fine and performing arts, nursing, pharmacy, pre-professional studies.
Rutgers University offers an Honors College program for very academically-strong students. The program houses students in an Honors College dormitory, gives them first priority for registration in university-wide courses, and offers special, smaller classes and additional mentorships.
New Jersey Institute of Technology: Engineering, architecture and design, science and liberal arts, management, computing science, professional education.
Rowan University: Communication and creative arts, education, engineering, health sciences, humanities and social sciences, performing arts, business, science and mathematics, global learning and partnerships, biomedical sciences, health professions, medicine, osteopathic medicine.
Master’s and Baccalaureate Colleges and Universities
Most of the master’s and baccalaureate universities and colleges offer courses in the liberal arts, however, none of them are devoted mostly or exclusively to those subjects. Every institution offers some form of pre-professional education, such as business, education, health sciences, or engineering.
The College of New Jersey: Business, arts and communications, education, engineering, humanities and social sciences, science, nursing, health, and exercise science.
The College of New Jersey is the most selective of the public colleges and universities in the state. It is seen as a good alternative for academically-strong students who want to attend a public institution but prefer a smaller, more residential, campus than Rutgers University.
William Patterson University: Education, business, humanities and social sciences, arts and communications, science and health.
New Jersey City University: Arts and sciences, education, business, professional studies (e.g., criminal justice, health sciences, fire science).
Thomas Edison State University: Business, arts, sciences, health professions, organizational leadership.
Montclair State University: Arts, communication and media, music, education and human services, humanities and social sciences, science and mathematics, nursing.
Stockton University: Arts and humanities, business, education, general studies, health sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, social and behavioral sciences.
Kean University: Business and public management, education, humanities and social sciences, natural, applied, and health sciences.
Ramapo College: Business, contemporary arts, humanities and global studies, social science and human services, theoretical and applied science.
County Colleges
Nineteen public community county colleges serve the 21 counties of New Jersey, encompassing more than 60 campuses.
Union County College: Health, humanities, social science, business, history, science, technology, engineering, math, nursing.