Safety Score
2.39 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Montclair, NJ · Clery Act 2023 · Public
Montclair State University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 22,570-student campus.
- 2.39
- Incidents / 1k students
- #2,115
- Rank of 3,050
- #54
- NJ rank
- 22,570
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Montclair State University reports 2.39 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #2,115 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 69% of ranked campuses its size.
- 2.39
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #2,115
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 69%
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 15
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Montclair State University decreased from 22 to 15 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesMontclair State University is a Public institution located in Montclair, NJ, enrolling approximately 22,570 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 55 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within NJ, it ranks #54 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 22,570 enrolled students, this campus sits in the large research university bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Montclair State University is "Burglary" with 20 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in NJ averaging 6.10 incidents per 1,000 students, Montclair State University reports 61% fewer incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 4 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 9 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. No Department of Education Clery Act enforcement actions are recorded against this institution.
National Rank
#2115
See peer comparison
State Rank (NJ)
#54
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
15
across 11 crime categories
Where Montclair State University sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
2 safer than 31% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. 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, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
Montclair State University percentile rank 30.7%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #2115 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Montclair State University reports 61% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $15,912
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $26,022
- Avg Net Price
- $15,566
- Median Debt
- $22,000
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 47%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 88%
- SAT Average
- 1070
- SAT Math Range
- 430–590
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 64%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $47,944
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $61,415
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 72%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Enrollment scale
How campus size shapes the safety figures
With 22,570 enrolled students, Montclair State University is in the largest 3% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyMontclair State University: on-campus incidents by year
Declining 17% (18 → 15 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Burglary | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| Fondling | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
9 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Weapons | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2021 | 2 | 1 |
| Liquor | 2021 | 0 | 6 |
| Weapons | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
Montclair State University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
NJ
Montclair State University
2.39 incidents / 1,000 students
VA
Old Dominion University
2.75 incidents / 1,000 students
CA
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
7.74 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA · 22,541 enrolled
Safety Score 2.75
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · 22,485 enrolled
Safety Score 7.74
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS · 22,657 enrolled
Safety Score 2.74
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI · 22,481 enrolled
Safety Score 2.27
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Albuquerque, NM · 22,700 enrolled
Safety Score 15.02
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Montclair State University nationally (rank #2115), regardless of size or state.
North Seattle College
Seattle, WA
National Rank #2114
Lake Superior State University
Sault Sainte Marie, MI
National Rank #2116
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT
National Rank #2113
Howard Payne University
Brownwood, TX
National Rank #2117
Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA
National Rank #2112
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montclair State University safe?
Montclair State University has a safety score of 2.39 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #2,115 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Montclair State University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Montclair State University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in NJ.
Does Montclair State University have fire safety data?
Yes. Montclair State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 4 fires were reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Montclair State University's Safety Profile
Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ enrolls 22,570 students and has a safety score of 2.39 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #2115 nationally.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents decreased from 22 in 2022 to 15 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 4 fires were reported in the most recent year.
What this means for you
Montclair State University's 2.39 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Montclair State University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure 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.