Rutgers University-Newark vs. TCNJ

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

Rutgers University-Newark TCNJ
Location Newark, NJ Ewing, NJ
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 10,809 7,652
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #186 #164
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu tcnj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rutgers University-Newark TCNJ
Tuition (In State) $13,674 $14,706
Tuition (Out of State) $32,436 $20,589
Room & Board $15,060 $15,569
Avg Net Price $17,425 $22,379
Avg Grant Aid $16,298 $13,824
% Receiving Grant Aid 77% 62%

Admission

Rutgers University-Newark TCNJ
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,779 11,668
Admitted 13,997 7,251
Acceptance Rate 78.7% 62.1%
Enrolled % 10.1% 21.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.29
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 25/31
SAT Range 1030/1270 1140/1340
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Rutgers University-Newark TCNJ
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (36%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Rutgers University-Newark TCNJ
Graduation Rate 68% 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 University-Newark TCNJ
% Men 16% 2%
% Women 16% 6%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 25% 66%
% Black 19% 6%
% Hispanic 27% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Rutgers University-Newark TCNJ
% In-State 96% 95%
% Out-of-State 2% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University Newark is larger than than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (10,809 students vs. 7,652 students)

Rutgers University-Newark vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers University-Newark or TCNJ?

  • The College of New Jersey is 7.5% more expensive to attend than Rutgers University-Newark for in-state tuition ($14,706.00 vs. $13,674.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 57.5% higher at Rutgers University-Newark than The College of New Jersey ($32,436.00 vs. $20,589.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University Newark than TCNJ ($17,425 vs. $22,379)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University Newark are 3.4% lower than costs at The College of New Jersey ($15,060 vs. $15,569)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rutgers University Newark than The College of New Jersey (77% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University Newark students is 17.9% larger than aid received The College of New Jersey ($16,298 vs. $13,824)

Rutgers University-Newark vs. TCNJ Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The College of New Jersey (1227) is 197 points higher than at Rutgers University-Newark (1030)
  • Accepted freshman TCNJ students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) than students at Rutgers University-Newark (3.23)
  • Rutgers University-Newark has a higher acceptance rate (78.7%) than TCNJ (62.1%)

Rutgers University-Newark vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers University-Newark 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 University-Newark.

  • The graduation rate at TCNJ is higher than Rutgers University Newark (87% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University Newark earn on average $4,100 more per year than TCNJ graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $62,100)
  • Rutgers University Newark students graduate with a $1,035 lower median federal student loan debt than TCNJ graduates. ($22,215 vs. $23,250)
  • Rutgers University-Newark 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 University-Newark 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/