Montclair State University vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Montclair State University and Rutgers University New Brunswick? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Montclair State University
Rutgers University New Brunswick

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Montclair State University Montclair, NJ
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Montclair State University Large Suburban
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Montclair State University 23,375
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Montclair State University Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Montclair State University #652
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Montclair State University -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Montclair State University Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Montclair State University
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Montclair State University $15,912
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Montclair State University $26,022
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Montclair State University $16,730
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Montclair State University $17,669
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Montclair State University $12,341
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Montclair State University 84%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Montclair State University 26,257
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Montclair State University 23,076
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Montclair State University 87.9%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Montclair State University 18.2%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Montclair State University 1060
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Montclair State University
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Montclair State University 3.3
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Montclair State University B+
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Montclair State University Easy
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Montclair State University
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Montclair State University
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Montclair State University 910/1210
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Montclair State University Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Montclair State University
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Montclair State University 18:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Montclair State University
    • Work and Family Studies (17%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Montclair State University 62%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Montclair State University $51,100
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Montclair State University 67%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Montclair State University $22,999
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Montclair State University $237
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Montclair State University 39%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Montclair State University 61%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Montclair State University High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Montclair State University No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Montclair State University 44%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Montclair State University 5%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Montclair State University 11%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Montclair State University 25%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Montclair State University 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Montclair State University 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Montclair State University 3%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Montclair State University 2%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Montclair State University 9%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Montclair State University 95%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Montclair State University 4%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Montclair State University No
  • Rutgers No
  • Meal Plan
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • Rutgers Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Montclair State University based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 23,375 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Montclair State University is located in Montclair, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Montclair State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Montclair State University 18:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Montclair State University vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Montclair State University or Rutgers? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montclair State University than Rutgers ($17,669 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 6.1% lower than at Montclair State University ($15,714 vs. $16,730).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 12.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Montclair State University (about $2,017 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $15,912.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.9% higher at Rutgers than at Montclair State University (about $11,419 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $26,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Montclair State University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (84% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Montclair State University students ($16,742 vs. $12,341).

Montclair State University vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Montclair State University or Rutgers? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rutgers and Montclair State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 350 points higher than at Montclair State University (1060).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Montclair State University 910/1210; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Montclair State University - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Montclair State University students have the same average high school GPA (3.3) as students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Montclair State University has a higher acceptance rate (87.9%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at Montclair State University vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Montclair State University vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Montclair State University and Rutgers? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Montclair State University's (62%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than Montclair State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $784 lower median loan debt than Montclair State University graduates ($22,215 vs. $22,999).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Montclair State University graduates ($229 vs. $237).
  • More Rutgers graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Montclair State University students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.