Rutgers vs. TCNJ

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 8,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); The College of New Jersey is in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; The College of New Jersey 14:1.

Rutgers vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or TCNJ? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than TCNJ ($20,522 vs. $25,580).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 4.7% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($14,976 vs. $15,714).
• The College of New Jersey is 9.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $1,703 more per year; $19,632.00 vs. $17,929.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.4% higher at Rutgers than at The College of New Jersey (about $11,689 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $25,752.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of New Jersey than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (59% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 25.3% larger than aid received by The College of New Jersey students ($16,742 vs. $13,360).

Rutgers vs. TCNJ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers or TCNJ? 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 TCNJ and Rutgers.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 170 points higher than at TCNJ (1240).
• Incoming Rutgers students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at TCNJ).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; The College of New Jersey 1140/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; The College of New Jersey 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; TCNJ - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Rutgers students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at TCNJ (3.29).
• TCNJ has a higher acceptance rate (62.3%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 19.7% at TCNJ.

Rutgers vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and TCNJ? 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).

• The College of New Jersey's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
• Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than TCNJ graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $62,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $1,035 lower median loan debt than TCNJ graduates ($22,215 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TCNJ graduates ($229 vs. $240).
• More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 68%)

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.