Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in New Jersey
Ranked by graduate earnings
Rowan University, Stockton University and Rider University are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in New Jersey by graduate earnings. Rowan University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,486, College Scorecard. Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus, Rowan University and Stockton University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in New Jersey: 242, 161 and 150 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 New Jersey colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 8,034 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rowan University Glassboro Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,486 | 161 | 67% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | Stockton University Galloway Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,209 | 150 | 69% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Rider University Lawrenceville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,315 | 21 | 61% | $23,844 | $22,233 |
| 4 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Teaneck Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,071 | 242 | 53% | $18,059 | $26,000 |
| 5 | Seton Hall University South Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,993 | 81 | 69% | $27,376 | $25,000 |
| 6 | Rutgers University - Camden Camden Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,768 | 37 | 67% | — | $23,000 |
| 7 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,581 | 65 | 44% | — | $26,750 |
| 8 | Montclair State University Montclair Public · Bachelor's degree | $22,201 | 60 | 65% | — | $25,967 |
| 9 | Thomas Edison State University Trenton Public · Bachelor's degree Degree completion | $49,779 | 386 | — | — | $19,766 |
| 10 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,331 | 1 | 70% | — | $27,625 |
Top 10 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rowan College at Burlington County Mount Laurel Public · Associate degree | $28,376 | 1,085 | 36% | — | $9,500 |
| 2 | Camden County College Blackwood Public · Associate degree | $27,655 | 401 | 31% | — | $9,789 |
| 3 | Middlesex College Edison Public · Associate degree | $26,693 | 407 | 33% | — | $8,660 |
| 4 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus Sewell Public · Associate degree | $26,187 | 165 | 39% | — | $11,084 |
| 5 | UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey Cranford Public · Associate degree | $25,989 | 319 | 35% | — | $9,500 |
| 6 | Ocean County College Toms River Public · Associate degree | $25,647 | 834 | 42% | — | $10,749 |
| 7 | Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing Public · Associate degree | $24,197 | 153 | 30% | — | $9,500 |
| 8 | Sussex County Community College Newton Public · Associate degree | $22,293 | 168 | 37% | — | $11,375 |
| 9 | Warren County Community College Washington Public · Associate degree | $22,140 | 70 | 39% | — | $8,875 |
| 10 | Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg Public · Associate degree | $21,336 | 229 | 31% | — | $5,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in New Jersey
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Teaneck Private not-for-profit | 242 | $39,071 |
| 2 | Rowan University Glassboro Public | 161 | $43,486 |
| 3 | Stockton University Galloway Public | 150 | $42,209 |
| 4 | Seton Hall University South Orange Private not-for-profit | 81 | $36,993 |
| 5 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public | 65 | $32,581 |
| 6 | Montclair State University Montclair Public | 60 | $22,201 |
| 7 | Rutgers University - Camden Camden Public | 37 | $35,768 |
| 8 | Salem Community College Carneys Point Public | 37 | Not reported |
| 9 | Kean University Union Public | 27 | Not reported |
| 10 | Rider University Lawrenceville Private not-for-profit | 21 | $41,315 |
ShowHide the other 30 New Jersey colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).
What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in New Jersey
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in New Jersey.
Which New Jersey colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus (242 graduates a year), Rowan University (161 graduates a year) and Stockton University (150 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 New Jersey colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.
What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in New Jersey?+
By graduate earnings, Rowan University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in New Jersey, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,486, College Scorecard. Stockton University and Rider University follow. By degrees awarded, Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus is the largest, with 242 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in New Jersey has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Rowan University tops the list at $43,486. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in New Jersey?+
The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in New Jersey is $111,350 (median $85,260), across about 1,040 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+
The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…
What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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