State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in New Jersey

Private campuses outnumber public ones on this New Jersey list (93 vs 36); Middlesex College still leads on average net price at $2,288.

$2,288
Cheapest net price
$18,173
New Jersey median
129
Schools ranked

Middlesex College has the lowest average net price in New Jersey among Scorecard reporters

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Middlesex College posts the lowest average net price in New Jersey at $2,288 among 129 ranked schools, with the state median 6% above the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard

Cheapest net price
$2,288
New Jersey median
$18,173
Schools ranked
129
National median
$17,124

Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The list in one line

Middlesex College has the lowest average net price in New Jersey at $2,288/year, and the state's median net price is 6% above the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.

$2,288
cheapest ranked net price
$18,173
New Jersey median net price
36 public / 93 private
schools in this ranking
$17,299
avg net price, <$30K income families

Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $17,299 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.

Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Princeton University, where in-state published tuition of $62,688 falls to an average net price of $6,128 after aid, a $56,560 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked New Jersey schools.

Private campuses outnumber public ones here (93 vs 36). A low figure at a small religious or specialty school can reflect a narrow enrollment mix, check sector and enrollment beside the price.

The bar to make this top-25 list is $9,766. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 129 Scorecard-reporting New Jersey schools:

The bar to make New Jersey's top-25 cheapest list

Average net price after aid · 129 Scorecard-reporting schools

$9,766 Among the most affordable more affordable than 81% of 129 New Jersey colleges

Show national distribution $0–$6,000: 7 New Jersey colleges (5%). Below this entry. $6,000–$12,000: 32 New Jersey colleges (25%). This entry sits in this band. $12,000–$18,000: 25 New Jersey colleges (19%). Above this entry. $18,000–$24,000: 28 New Jersey colleges (22%). Above this entry. $24,000–$30,000: 20 New Jersey colleges (16%). Above this entry. $30,000–$36,000: 7 New Jersey colleges (5%). Above this entry. $36,000–$42,000: 7 New Jersey colleges (5%). Above this entry. $42,000–$48,000: 2 New Jersey colleges (2%). Above this entry. $48,000–$54,000: 1 New Jersey colleges (1%). Above this entry. #25 cutoff $0 $54,000 every ranked New Jersey college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $6K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Jersey colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23

New Jersey's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

1
Middlesex College Edison, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$2,288
Net price (<$30K income)
$1,306
Median debt
$9,750
Median earnings, 6yr
$37,254
Enrollment
12,044
2
Essex County College Newark, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$4,436
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,792
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$30,298
Enrollment
7,026
3
Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$5,279
Net price (<$30K income)
$4,017
Median debt
$10,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$35,267
Enrollment
6,394
4
Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$5,344
Net price (<$30K income)
$4,071
Median debt
$10,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$35,978
Enrollment
6,620
5
Yeshiva Toras Chaim Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$5,356
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,247
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
227
6
Warren County Community College Washington, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$5,726
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,962
Median debt
$9,300
Median earnings, 6yr
$37,919
Enrollment
944
7
Camden County College Blackwood, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$5,996
Net price (<$30K income)
$4,582
Median debt
$11,851
Median earnings, 6yr
$32,960
Enrollment
7,622
8
Princeton University Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$6,128
Net price (<$30K income)
$41
Median debt
$10,320
Median earnings, 6yr
$87,815
Enrollment
9,137
9
Talmudical Academy-New Jersey Adelphia, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$6,164
Net price (<$30K income)
-
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
72
10
Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$6,778
Net price (<$30K income)
$5,135
Median debt
$10,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$39,229
Enrollment
6,762
11
Bais Medrash Toras Chesed Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$6,838
Net price (<$30K income)
$6,605
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
132
12
Hudson County Community College Jersey City, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$7,307
Net price (<$30K income)
$6,864
Median debt
$10,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$28,676
Enrollment
7,763
14
Passaic County Community College Paterson, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$7,761
Net price (<$30K income)
$7,686
Median debt
$7,536
Median earnings, 6yr
$31,276
Enrollment
4,782
15
Sussex County Community College Newton, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$7,859
Net price (<$30K income)
$5,955
Median debt
$11,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$36,934
Enrollment
2,247
17
Rabbi Jacob Joseph School Edison, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$8,389
Net price (<$30K income)
$8,913
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
115
18
Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$8,392
Net price (<$30K income)
$7,383
Median debt
$9,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$29,224
Enrollment
4,052
19
Pillar College Newark, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$8,470
Net price (<$30K income)
$15,139
Median debt
$21,483
Median earnings, 6yr
$37,885
Enrollment
556
20
County College of Morris Randolph, NJ · Public
Avg net price
$8,895
Net price (<$30K income)
$6,573
Median debt
$9,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$40,215
Enrollment
6,131
22
Yeshiva Gedolah Tiferes Boruch North Plainfield, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$9,417
Net price (<$30K income)
$8,910
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
81
23
Rabbinical Seminary Mkor Chaim Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$9,494
Net price (<$30K income)
$8,929
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
96
24
Yeshiva Gedolah of Cliffwood Keyport, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$9,641
Net price (<$30K income)
$9,755
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
30
25
Beth Medrash of Asbury Park Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$9,766
Net price (<$30K income)
$10,157
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
124
# College Avg net priceNet price (<$30K income)Median debtMedian earnings, 6yrEnrollment
1 Middlesex College Edison, NJ · Public $2,288 96% of the leader · rank #1 $1,306 $9,750 $37,254 12,044
2 Essex County College Newark, NJ · Public $4,436 92% of the leader · rank #2 $3,792 - $30,298 7,026
3 Mercer County Community College West Windsor, NJ · Public $5,279 90% of the leader · rank #3 $4,017 $10,500 $35,267 6,394
4 Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel, NJ · Public $5,344 90% of the leader · rank #4 $4,071 $10,500 $35,978 6,620
5 Yeshiva Toras Chaim Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofit $5,356 90% of the leader · rank #5 $3,247 - - 227
6 Warren County Community College Washington, NJ · Public $5,726 89% of the leader · rank #6 $3,962 $9,300 $37,919 944
7 Camden County College Blackwood, NJ · Public $5,996 89% of the leader · rank #7 $4,582 $11,851 $32,960 7,622
8 Princeton University Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofit $6,128 88% of the leader · rank #8 $41 $10,320 $87,815 9,137
9 Talmudical Academy-New Jersey Adelphia, NJ · Private nonprofit $6,164 88% of the leader · rank #9 - - - 72
10 Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg, NJ · Public $6,778 87% of the leader · rank #10 $5,135 $10,500 $39,229 6,762
11 Bais Medrash Toras Chesed Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofit $6,838 87% of the leader · rank #11 $6,605 - - 132
12 Hudson County Community College Jersey City, NJ · Public $7,307 86% of the leader · rank #12 $6,864 $10,500 $28,676 7,763
13 Union County Vocational Technical School Scotch Plains, NJ · Public $7,361 86% of the leader · rank #13 $3,283 - $39,218 88
14 Passaic County Community College Paterson, NJ · Public $7,761 85% of the leader · rank #14 $7,686 $7,536 $31,276 4,782
15 Sussex County Community College Newton, NJ · Public $7,859 85% of the leader · rank #15 $5,955 $11,000 $36,934 2,247
16 UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey Cranford, NJ · Public $8,257 84% of the leader · rank #16 $6,880 $15,091 $33,731 8,330
17 Rabbi Jacob Joseph School Edison, NJ · Private nonprofit $8,389 84% of the leader · rank #17 $8,913 - - 115
18 Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing, NJ · Public $8,392 84% of the leader · rank #18 $7,383 $9,500 $29,224 4,052
19 Pillar College Newark, NJ · Private nonprofit $8,470 84% of the leader · rank #19 $15,139 $21,483 $37,885 556
20 County College of Morris Randolph, NJ · Public $8,895 83% of the leader · rank #20 $6,573 $9,000 $40,215 6,131
21 New Community Career & Technical Institute Newark, NJ · Private nonprofit $9,075 83% of the leader · rank #21 $9,075 $2,808 - 11
22 Yeshiva Gedolah Tiferes Boruch North Plainfield, NJ · Private nonprofit $9,417 82% of the leader · rank #22 $8,910 - - 81
23 Rabbinical Seminary Mkor Chaim Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofit $9,494 82% of the leader · rank #23 $8,929 - - 96
24 Yeshiva Gedolah of Cliffwood Keyport, NJ · Private nonprofit $9,641 82% of the leader · rank #24 $9,755 - - 30
25 Beth Medrash of Asbury Park Lakewood, NJ · Private nonprofit $9,766 81% of the leader · rank #25 $10,157 - - 124

Showing the 25 cheapest of 129 Scorecard-reporting New Jersey schools. The remaining 104 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.

Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.

Related

All 51 states → | New Jersey campus safety → | Find your school's rank → | Methodology →

What this means for you

Use New Jersey's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.

  • Middlesex College reports the lowest average net price in New Jersey, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Middlesex College
  • See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
  • Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. New Jersey safety

Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.

Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for New Jersey. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.