Montclair State University Hikes Tuition Rates: Here’s What Students Will Pay

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The cost of attending class is going up at Montclair State University.

The MSU board of trustees has approved a tuition and fee hike for the 2025-2026 academic year, administrators announced Wednesday.

Here’s how much it will cost to attend Montclair State:

• Tuition and mandatory fees will be $16,854 per year for in-state, full-time undergraduate students – an increase of $471 per semester
• Tuition and fees for out-of-state undergraduates will come to $27,570 per year – an increase of $774 per semester
• Most master’s degree students will pay $22,670 per year – an increase of $631 per semester

“The rising costs of maintaining a high-quality institution unfortunately require us to raise tuition,” Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell said.

“We remain strongly committed to providing an excellent education at an affordable price, and will not balance our budget by compromising on quality or cutting back on services that our students need,” Koppell added.

According to MSU administrators, the trustee board also approved an increase to financial aid. The university will grant more than $42 million in institutional aid – the highest total in its history.

Administrators said that financial aid plays a big role for many MSU students:

“Eligible incoming first-year students have access to the Red Hawk Advantage program, which ensures funding that reduces the total cost of attendance. Coupled with the State’s Garden State Guarantee, many students have a pathway to graduate with little to no debt. Montclair’s student debt, which averages $22,000, is far lower than the national average of $29,300. Montclair serves a student body reflective of New Jersey’s diversity. More than 50% of undergraduate students identify as minority group members. Nearly half of Montclair’s students qualify for federal Pell Grants because they come from lower-income families. More than 76% of Montclair students receive some form of financial assistance, and 32% of students will continue to see all of their tuition and fees covered. An additional 36% will pay less than $10,000.”

Only one-third of students – who are not eligible for income-based assistance – will pay the full cost of attending MSU, administrators said.

For more information about tuition and financial aid at Montclair State University, click here.

Montclair State isn’t the only large university in the area that is raising its tuition rates. Earlier this month, the Rutgers Board of Governors approved a $5.9 billion operating budget for the 2025-2026 academic year, which includes a 5 percent tuition increase for in-state students and a 6 percent increase for out-of-state students.

• See Related: Rutgers Tuition Will Go Up 5 Percent Next Year For In-State Students

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