Jersey City, New Jersey Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey: median public in-state tuition $16,422 (+197.9% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $52,745 (-3.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 76.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,733 (+18.6% vs U.S.) 13,960 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Jersey City serve students across New Jersey with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 6 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 13,960 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $16,422. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Jersey City, New Jersey and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Jersey City vs New Jersey & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City, New Jersey | $16,422 | $18,582 | $15,733 | 34.1% | 13,960 |
| New Jersey (state median) | $6,300 | $11,024 | $11,998 | 51.0% | 316,789 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Jersey City, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City, New Jersey | $52,745 | 76.0% | 64.8% | 5.6% | — | 61.6% | 0.35 |
| New Jersey (state median) | $59,988 | 84.0% | 78.3% | 4.6% | — | 71.8% | 0.36 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in New Jersey (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey City, New Jersey | $16,422 | $18,582 | $15,733 | 34.1% | 13,960 | $52,745 | 76.0% |
| New Brunswick | $17,929 | $24,406 | $21,500 | 83.6% | 37,751 | $74,479 | 84.8% |
| Newark | $18,612 | $9,075 | $21,483 | 63.7% | 23,092 | $74,479 | 84.8% |
| Newark | $18,612 | $9,075 | $21,483 | 63.7% | 23,092 | $74,479 | 84.8% |
| Newark | $18,612 | $9,075 | $21,483 | 63.7% | 23,092 | $74,479 | 84.8% |
| Union | $12,824 | $12,447 | $12,365 | 56.6% | 13,416 | $57,237 | 84.7% |
| Paramus | $4,913 | $25,733 | $11,260 | N/A | 11,052 | N/A | N/A |
| Edison | $8,732 | $8,389 | $7,625 | 0.0% | 8,651 | N/A | N/A |
| Lakewood | $12,000 | $11,794 | $21,816 | 49.6% | 7,593 | $53,096 | 56.9% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 58.3%, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 33.9%, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
Top 2 colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 82.4%, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 76.0%, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
Top 2 most selective colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 90.3%, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 98.4%, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
Top 3 colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $90,730, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $88,259, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $31,850, Eastern International College-Jersey City
Eastern International College-Jersey City
Top 3 colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $102,386, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $100,199, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $48,047, Eastern International College-Jersey City
Eastern International College-Jersey City
Top 2 colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,918, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $42,470, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
Top 2 colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $51,554, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $48,714, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
Top 2 colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $57,815, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $52,745, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
Top 3 colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $192,540, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $165,158, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $80,375, Eastern International College-Jersey City
Eastern International College-Jersey City
Top 3 most affordable colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $12,199, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $16,053, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $21,111, Eastern International College-Jersey City
Eastern International College-Jersey City
Top 2 colleges in Jersey City, New Jersey by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 71.8%, Saint Peter's University
Saint Peter's University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 64.8%, New Jersey City University
New Jersey City University
In-state tuition: Jersey City, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Jersey City, New Jersey median in-state tuition is $16,422, +197.9% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Jersey City, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Jersey City, New Jersey is $15,733 (+18.6% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Jersey City, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Jersey City, New Jersey center around $52,745 (-3.0% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Jersey City, New Jersey vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 76.0% at the median Jersey City, New Jersey campus (-12.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Jersey City, New Jersey median public in-state tuition is $16,422, about +197.9% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +122.5%.
Median graduate debt is $15,733 (+18.6% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Jersey City, New Jersey are $52,745, about -3.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 76.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-12.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 64.8% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 61.6% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include New Jersey City University (82.4%), Saint Peter's University (76.0%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Jersey City, New Jersey is 34.1% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Jersey City?
This city profile covers 6 campuses in Jersey City, New Jersey with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Jersey City?
Median in-state tuition in Jersey City is $16,422 and median net price is $18,582. For New Jersey overall, medians are $6,300 and $11,024; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Jersey City?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Jersey City is $52,745 vs $59,988 for New Jersey and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Jersey City colleges?
Median completer debt in Jersey City is $15,733 vs $11,998 for New Jersey and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Jersey City?
Top campuses on this page include Saint Peter's University (graduation) and Saint Peter's University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Jersey City?
Among 6 campuses in Jersey City, New Jersey, 6 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Hudson County Community College, New Jersey City University, and Saint Peter's University; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1).
Sources & related
- New Jersey college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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