Montclair State University vs. TCNJ

Should I go to Montclair State University or The College of New Jersey? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Montclair State University or TCNJ is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Montclair State University vs. The College of New Jersey comparison
Montclair State University The College of New Jersey College 3 College 4
Montclair State University The College of New Jersey
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Overview

Montclair State University TCNJ
Location Montclair, NJ Ewing, NJ
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 22,570 7,652
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #615 #164
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website montclair.edu tcnj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Montclair State University TCNJ
Tuition (In State) $13,710 $14,706
Tuition (Out of State) $23,070 $20,589
Room & Board $16,822 $15,569
Avg Net Price $13,880 $22,379
Avg Grant Aid $11,743 $13,824
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 62%

Admission

Montclair State University TCNJ
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 23,599 11,668
Admitted 20,629 7,251
Acceptance Rate 87.4% 62.1%
Enrolled % 19.6% 21.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.29
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/31
SAT Range 940/1225 1140/1340
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Montclair State University TCNJ
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Work and Family Studies (17%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Montclair State University TCNJ
Graduation Rate 62% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,100 $62,100
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,999 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $237 $240

Diversity

Montclair State University TCNJ
% Men 6% 2%
% Women 14% 6%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 44% 66%
% Black 11% 6%
% Hispanic 25% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 9% 5%

Students

Montclair State University TCNJ
% In-State 94% 95%
% Out-of-State 5% 5%

Campus

Montclair State University TCNJ
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Montclair State University is larger than than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (22,570 students vs. 7,652 students)

Montclair State University vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Montclair State University or TCNJ?

  • The College of New Jersey is 7.3% more expensive to attend than Montclair State University for in-state tuition ($14,706.00 vs. $13,710.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.1% higher at Montclair State University than The College of New Jersey ($23,070.00 vs. $20,589.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Montclair State University than TCNJ ($13,880 vs. $22,379)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 8% lower than costs at Montclair State University ($15,569 vs. $16,822)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Montclair State University than The College of New Jersey (78% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 17.7% larger than aid received Montclair State University ($13,824 vs. $11,743)

Montclair State University vs. TCNJ Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Montclair State University or TCNJ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between TCNJ or Montclair State University .

  • Accepted freshman Montclair State University students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at TCNJ (3.29)
  • Montclair State University has a higher acceptance rate (87.4%) than TCNJ (62.1%)

Montclair State University vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Montclair State University or TCNJ? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between TCNJ and Montclair State University.

  • The graduation rate at TCNJ is higher than Montclair State University (87% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn on average $11,000 more per year than Montclair State University graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $51,100)
  • Montclair State University students graduate with a $251 lower median federal student loan debt than TCNJ graduates. ($22,999 vs. $23,250)
  • Montclair State University graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than TCNJ graduates. ($237 vs. $240)
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Montclair State University students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/