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Rutgers UMBC Maryland NJIT Rowan University Salisbury UD Rider University Seton Hall University Penn State Monmouth University WCU| Towson University | The College of New Jersey | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
TU | TCNJ | ||
| Location | Towson, MD | Ewing, NJ | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 19,527 | 7,652 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #375 | #164 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | towson.edu | tcnj.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
TU | TCNJ | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,382 | $14,706 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,402 | $20,589 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,644 | $15,569 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,064 | $22,379 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,565 | $13,824 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 62% |
Admission |
TU | TCNJ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 18,948 | 11,668 | ||
| Admitted | 15,689 | 7,251 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 82.8% | 62.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.2% | 21.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.69 | 3.29 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/28 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1270 | 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 | Apr 1, 2026 | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
TU | TCNJ | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
TU | TCNJ | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $62,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,750 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $183 | $240 |
Diversity |
TU | TCNJ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 66% | ||
| % Black | 18% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 0% | ||
| % International | 2% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 5% |
Students |
TU | TCNJ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 5% | ||
Campus |
TU | 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
- Towson University is larger than than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (19,527 students vs. 7,652 students)
TU vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, TU or TCNJ?
- The College of New Jersey is 99.2% more expensive to attend than TU for in-state tuition ($14,706.00 vs. $7,382.00)
- Out of state tuition is 18.5% higher at TU than The College of New Jersey ($24,402.00 vs. $20,589.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Towson University than TCNJ ($15,064 vs. $22,379)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 0.5% lower than costs at Towson University ($15,569 vs. $15,644)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Towson University as The College of New Jersey (62% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 19.5% larger than aid received Towson University ($13,824 vs. $11,565)
TU vs. TCNJ Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, TU or TCNJ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between TCNJ or TU .
- The average SAT score at The College of New Jersey (1227) is 146 points higher than at TU (1081)
- Incoming TCNJ students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at TU (23)
- Accepted freshman TU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at TCNJ (3.29)
- TU has a higher acceptance rate (82.8%) than TCNJ (62.1%)
TU vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, TU 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 TU.
- The graduation rate at TCNJ is higher than Towson University (87% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn on average $8,600 more per year than TU graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $53,500)
- Towson University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than TCNJ graduates. ($17,750 vs. $23,250)
- TU graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than TCNJ graduates. ($183 vs. $240)
- More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/