Best Nursing Schools in New Jersey (2026): Rankings and Reviews

New Jersey has around 20 colleges producing BSN graduates, close to the New York and Philadelphia job markets. This guide ranks them using official federal data and reviews the top five.

Imagine you are weighing a selective public college in Ewing against Rutgers and a private university at the Jersey Shore. New Jersey offers strong options at very different prices. Here is how they compare.

How we ranked these schools

We used the latest official data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard. We included colleges in New Jersey that award a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN), and ranked those producing at least 20 BSN graduates a year by their graduation rate. We also show how much their nursing graduates earn and what tuition costs. Graduation rates are for each college as a whole, not nursing students alone.

New Jersey nursing schools ranked (2026)

Rank	College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
1	The College of New Jersey	Ewing	Public	86%	66	$94,464	$20,378
2	Rutgers University-New Brunswick	New Brunswick	Public	84%	297	$92,735	$18,824
3	Monmouth University	West Long Branch	Private nonprofit	72%	51	$92,918	$48,299
4	Seton Hall University	South Orange	Private nonprofit	70%	124	$96,072	$55,040
5	Ramapo College of New Jersey	Mahwah	Public	69%	123	$97,842	$17,615
6	Stockton University	Galloway	Public	69%	82	$89,849	$16,754
7	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus	Madison	Private nonprofit	68%	27	$98,600	$39,454
8	Rowan University	Glassboro	Public	68%	84	$90,061	$17,428
9	Montclair State University	Montclair	Public	65%	53	$99,961	$16,854
10	Rutgers University-Camden	Camden	Public	64%	256	$92,735	$18,651
11	Georgian Court University	Lakewood	Private nonprofit	57%	104	$92,513	$37,902
12	Caldwell University	Caldwell	Private nonprofit	57%	58	$92,614	$42,470
13	Saint Peter’s University	Jersey City	Private nonprofit	57%	29	$87,470	$43,170
14	Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus	Teaneck	Private nonprofit	53%	49	$98,600	$39,454
15	Saint Elizabeth University	Morristown	Private nonprofit	50%	31	$103,664	$37,763
16	Kean University	Union	Public	48%	21	$111,674	$15,300
17	Felician University	Lodi	Private nonprofit	47%	210	$100,566	$40,840
18	William Paterson University of New Jersey	Wayne	Public	44%	425	$100,216	$16,748
19	Bloomfield College of Montclair State University	Bloomfield	Public	37%	29	$99,961	$16,854
20	New Jersey City University	Jersey City	Public	36%	88	$95,074	$15,604

Also offering a BSN in New Jersey (not ranked: either a comparable graduation rate isn’t reported, often because they mainly enrol transfer, upper-division or adult students, or they’re for-profit career colleges whose college-wide rates aren’t comparable with universities):

College	City	Type	Graduation rate	BSN graduates a year	BSN graduates’ median earnings (1 year)	In-state tuition
Chamberlain University-New Jersey	North Brunswick	Private for-profit	n/a	452	$89,974	$20,845
Thomas Edison State University	Trenton	Public	n/a	114	$103,401	$7,044
Berkeley College-Woodland Park	Woodland Park	Private for-profit	44%	60	$100,105	$30,880

Top New Jersey nursing schools reviewed

1. The College of New Jersey

The College of New Jersey in Ewing is a selective public college with a small, well-regarded nursing programme, and tops our New Jersey list.

• Graduation rate: 86%, number 1 in New Jersey on our list
• Programme size: about 66 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $94,464 one year after graduating
• Cost: $20,378 in-state tuition ($26,742 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 62%

2. Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers University-New Brunswick, through the Rutgers School of Nursing, offers one of the largest nursing programmes in the state, with links to major New Jersey health systems.

• Graduation rate: 84%, number 2 in New Jersey on our list
• Programme size: about 297 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $92,735 one year after graduating
• Cost: $18,824 in-state tuition ($39,649 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 58%

3. Monmouth University

Monmouth University in West Long Branch is a private university near the Jersey Shore offering a BSN.

• Graduation rate: 72%, number 3 in New Jersey on our list
• Programme size: about 51 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, a smaller programme with a more personal feel
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $92,918 one year after graduating
• Cost: $48,299 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 89%

4. Seton Hall University

Seton Hall University in South Orange is a Catholic university whose College of Nursing is now based at the Interprofessional Health Sciences campus in Nutley.

• Graduation rate: 70%, number 4 in New Jersey on our list
• Programme size: about 124 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $96,072 one year after graduating
• Cost: $55,040 tuition a year before financial aid
• Acceptance rate: 73%

5. Ramapo College of New Jersey

Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah is a public liberal arts college with a nursing programme in northern New Jersey.

• Graduation rate: 69%, number 5 in New Jersey on our list
• Programme size: about 123 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year
• Early earnings: nursing graduates earned a median of $97,842 one year after graduating
• Cost: $17,615 in-state tuition ($29,093 out of state)
• Acceptance rate: 71%

Ways to become a registered nurse in New Jersey

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): a four-year degree, the route covered in this guide, preferred by many hospitals and required for most leadership and advanced roles.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): a two-year programme, often at community colleges, leading to the same NCLEX-RN exam. Many nurses later complete an RN-to-BSN degree, often online and part-time while working.
• Accelerated BSN (ABSN): for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another subject, usually 12 to 18 months of intensive study.
• Direct-entry master’s (MSN): offered by some universities for graduates of other fields.

Whichever route you choose, you must graduate from an approved programme and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be licensed by the New Jersey Board of Nursing. New Jersey is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence lets you practise in other compact states.

Frequently asked questions

How many colleges in New Jersey offer a BSN?

Based on the latest College Scorecard data, 23 colleges in New Jersey produce at least 20 bachelor’s nursing graduates a year, together awarding around 2,833 BSN degrees annually. Some smaller programmes are not included.

Which New Jersey nursing school has the highest graduation rate?

The College of New Jersey has the highest college-wide graduation rate on our list, at 86%.

Which is the largest nursing programme in New Jersey?

Chamberlain University-New Jersey produces the most bachelor’s nursing graduates in the state, about 452 a year.

How much do new BSN graduates earn in New Jersey?

Across the colleges listed, the median first-year earnings of bachelor’s nursing graduates range from $87,470 to $111,674, with a typical (median) figure of about $96,072. Earnings depend on where graduates work, their shift patterns and whether they were already working as nurses.

How much does a public nursing degree cost in New Jersey?

In-state tuition at the public universities on our list ranges from $15,300 to $20,378 a year, before fees, housing and financial aid.

But is a ranking enough to choose a school?

No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:

• NCLEX pass rates: the New Jersey Board of Nursing publishes first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for approved programmes. Look for consistently high rates over several years.
• Accreditation: make sure the BSN is accredited by CCNE or ACEN.
• Getting into the nursing major: many universities admit students as “pre-nursing” first. Ask what share progress into the nursing programme.
• Clinical placements: where students train and how placements are arranged.
• Total cost: use each college’s net price calculator to see your likely cost after financial aid.

Related: US nursing schools with the highest graduation rates · How to get into nursing school

Sources: US Department of Education College Scorecard (accessed November 2026), New Jersey Board of Nursing, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Figures change every year; always confirm with the college.