Princeton Tops New College Ranking List; 8 Other NJ Schools Included

NEW JERSEY — Nine New Jersey colleges and universities are named among the 500 "Best Colleges In The U.S.," and Princeton University was ranked No. 1, in a newly-released study.

The study by The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse ranks these New Jersey colleges, and the others on the list, by how well they set graduates up for financial success — and also takes students' overall satisfaction and personal recommendations into account.

Princeton "eclipses almost every other school in setting up students for financial success later in life," the study authors said, noting that the university has the highest graduation rate of any in the ranking.

The school's influential alumni network is also key to career preparation for students, the study said, noting that first-year students can apply for a brief internship and job-shadowing opportunity called a “Princeternship,” hosted by alumni, during their first winter break.

The WSJ and College Pulse study includes a number of well-known schools and some lesser-known campuses, ranking both public and private colleges as well as technical schools and liberal arts institutions.

Each school was given a score out of 100, with student outcomes making 70 percent of the score. The learning environment on campus (20 percent) and the diversity of the student body (10 percent) are also included — with the study taking inclusion of students with lower family earnings and with disabilities into account for the diversity portion.

"The colleges in this ranking have found many ways to set their students up to succeed," study authors said.

Within the ranking, colleges are also listed based on student experience, best salaries for recent graduates, social mobility, and best value.

Here are the New Jersey colleges on the list, including their overall rank and their score out of 100:

• 1. Princeton University, 92.3
• 94. College of New Jersey, 76.7
• 106. Montclair State University, 75.9
• 114. New Jersey Institute of Technology, 75.3
• 124. Rutgers University, 74.7
• 127. Stevens Institute of Technology, 74.6
• 237. Stockton University, 63.9
• 285. Seton Hall University, 59.9
• 338. Rowan University, 55

You can see the entire list, and view the methodology, here.