Rutgers vs. TCNJ

Should I go to Rutgers University New Brunswick or The College of New Jersey? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rutgers 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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Rutgers University New Brunswick vs. The College of New Jersey comparison
Rutgers University New Brunswick The College of New Jersey College 3 College 4
Rutgers University New Brunswick The College of New Jersey
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Overview

 Rutgers TCNJ
Location New Brunswick, NJ Ewing, NJ
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 50,637 7,629
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #112 #175
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu tcnj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rutgers TCNJ
Tuition (In State) $12,900 $14,140
Tuition (Out of State) $30,600 $26,934
Room & Board $13,909 $14,144
Avg Net Price $17,535 $22,273
Avg Grant Aid $12,785 $11,826
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 58%

Admission

 Rutgers TCNJ
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 41,654 10,302
Admitted 27,612 6,638
Acceptance Rate 66.3% 64.4%
Enrolled % 28.2% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.29
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/33 24/30
SAT Range 1270/1480 1140/1350
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, 2025

Academics

 Rutgers TCNJ
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Rutgers TCNJ
Graduation Rate 77% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $62,100
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $229 $240

Diversity

 Rutgers TCNJ
% Men 46% 42%
% Women 54% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 42% 66%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 13% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 7% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

 Rutgers TCNJ
% In-State 85% 95%
% Out-of-State 8% 5%

Campus

 Rutgers 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

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (50,637 students vs. 7,629 students)

Rutgers vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or TCNJ?

  • The College of New Jersey is 9.6% more expensive to attend than Rutgers for in-state tuition ($14,140.00 vs. $12,900.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.6% higher at Rutgers than The College of New Jersey ($30,600.00 vs. $26,934.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than TCNJ ($17,535 vs. $22,273)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 1.7% lower than costs at The College of New Jersey ($13,909 vs. $14,144)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The College of New Jersey than Rutgers University New Brunswick (58% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 8.1% larger than aid received The College of New Jersey ($12,785 vs. $11,826)

Rutgers vs. TCNJ Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The College of New Jersey (1227) is 2 points higher than at Rutgers (1225)
  • Accepted freshman Rutgers students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at TCNJ (3.29)
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (66.3%) than TCNJ (64.4%)

Rutgers vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at TCNJ is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick (87% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn on average $4,100 more per year than TCNJ graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $62,100)
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick students graduate with a $1,035 lower median federal student loan debt than TCNJ graduates. ($22,215 vs. $23,250)
  • Rutgers graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans 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/