New Jersey Student Loans, Financial Aid & College Costs
New Jersey College Cost Snapshot (2025-26)
Published tuition and cost-of-attendance averages across New Jersey institutions.
Top New Jersey Colleges by Published Tuition (2025-26)
Tuition and fees only. Click any column header to sort.
| School ↕ | Type ↕ | In-state T&F ↕ | Out-of-state T&F ↕ | Undergrad Enroll. ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University–New Brunswick | Public 4-yr | $17,029 | $36,884 | 36,000 |
| Rutgers–Newark | Public 4-yr | $15,985 | $32,671 | 8,400 |
| Rutgers–Camden | Public 4-yr | $16,140 | $32,826 | 4,500 |
| TCNJ (College of NJ) | Public 4-yr | $19,079 | $31,138 | 7,100 |
| Montclair State University | Public 4-yr | $15,110 | $23,876 | 16,600 |
| Rowan University | Public 4-yr | $15,778 | $26,932 | 16,200 |
| NJIT | Public 4-yr | $18,676 | $36,770 | 9,000 |
| Princeton University | Private | $62,400 | $62,400 | 5,700 |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Private | $64,000 | $64,000 | 4,200 |
| NJ County College (avg) | Community | $5,050 | $9,970 | 235,000 |
New Jersey State-Funded Aid Programs
Administered by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).
NJ Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)
NJ's primary need-based grant covering tuition at eligible NJ public and private institutions.
Community College Opportunity Grant
Tuition-free community college for NJ residents with family income up to $65,000 after other aid is applied.
Garden State Guarantee
Free tuition and fees at NJ public four-year schools for junior and senior year for students with family income under $65,000.
NJ STARS / STARS II
Free tuition at NJ county colleges for top 15.0% of high school grads (STARS). STARS II continues scholarship support at four-year schools.
Governor's Urban Scholarship
For top-performing students from qualifying NJ urban communities.
Student Loan Options for New Jersey Students
Start with federal aid before considering private loans. Federal borrower protections are stronger and rates are fixed.
Does New Jersey have a state student loan program?
Yes. New Jersey offers the NJCLASS (HESAA) — a state-affiliated nonprofit lender. The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) administers NJCLASS — a long-running nonprofit state loan program with fixed rates and options for consolidation. Note that NJCLASS has historically had less flexible deferment than federal loans. New Jersey residents should still start with federal loans through the FAFSA, but the NJCLASS is worth comparing alongside national private lenders.
The order to follow
- File the FAFSA to unlock federal Pell Grants, New Jersey state grants, and Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans.
- Apply scholarships and 529 savings before borrowing a dollar. Every $1,000 in free aid saves roughly $1,400 in total loan cost over 10 years.
- Max federal Direct Loans next. Fixed rates, income-driven repayment, and forgiveness programs aren't available on private loans.
- Compare private student loans only for any remaining gap. Shop at least 3 lenders; cosigner rates typically run 1-3 points lower.
Private Student Loan Lenders We Recommend
If you've exhausted federal aid and still need to borrow, these are the lenders we track for rates and terms.
Credible
One form, prequalified offers from multiple private lenders. Shop rates without multiple hard credit pulls.
Compare Rates at Credible →College Ave
Flexible term lengths, no application or origination fees, and fast decisions.
Get A Quote At College Ave →Sallie Mae
Long-established lender with options for undergraduate, graduate, and career training programs.
See Sallie Mae Rates →Advertiser disclosure: The College Investor earns a commission from some of the lenders listed above. Our rankings are independent — compensation does not influence order or editorial recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from New Jersey students and families.
How much does college cost in New Jersey?
Average in-state tuition and fees at New Jersey public four-year universities is about $15,500 for 2025-26. Total cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room and board, books, and personal expenses) averages roughly $31,200 on campus for New Jersey residents and $43,400 for non-residents.
What is the average student loan debt in New Jersey?
New Jersey borrowers carry an average federal student loan balance of roughly $38,500. Total outstanding federal student debt for New Jersey residents is approximately $41.0 billion.
Does New Jersey offer state-funded college grants?
Yes. NJ administers the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG, up to full NJ public tuition), the Community College Opportunity Grant (free community college), the Garden State Guarantee (free junior and senior year), and NJ STARS (free county college for top 15%).
Does New Jersey have a state student loan program?
Yes. NJCLASS (HESAA) is a state-affiliated nonprofit lender serving New Jersey residents. The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) administers NJCLASS — a long-running nonprofit state loan program with fixed rates and options for consolidation. Note that NJCLASS has historically had less flexible deferment than federal loans.
Which New Jersey colleges have the lowest in-state tuition?
NJ county colleges average $5,050 per year in tuition and fees, and can be tuition-free for eligible residents through CCOG. Among four-year publics, Montclair State is lowest at $15,110. TCNJ and NJIT are the highest-priced in-state options.
What scholarships are available for New Jersey residents?
Key awards include TAG, CCOG, Garden State Guarantee, NJ STARS, and NJCLASS nonprofit loans. Princeton offers need-blind admission and no-loan financial aid for eligible families.
Related New Jersey Resources
How We Sourced This Data
- Institutional cost pages at New Jersey public universities (2025-26 published rates)
- Education Data Initiative state-level debt and cost tables
- NJ HESAA program pages
- NCES IPEDS data for enrollment and institutional cost profiles
Editor: Colin Graves Reviewed by: Chris Muller