Best colleges for Registered Nursing in New Jersey
Ranked by graduate earnings
Montclair State University, Kean University and Saint Elizabeth University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in New Jersey by graduate earnings. Montclair State University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $104,219, College Scorecard. William Paterson University of New Jersey, Rutgers University - New Brunswick and Chamberlain University - New Jersey award the most Registered Nursing degrees in New Jersey: 726, 440 and 323 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 51 New Jersey colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 6,544 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
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 | Montclair State University Montclair Public · Bachelor's degree | $104,219 | 90 | 65% | — | $27,031 |
| 2 | Kean University Union Public · Bachelor's degree | $101,039 | 57 | 47% | — | $20,750 |
| 3 | Saint Elizabeth University Morristown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $100,007 | 32 | 51% | $20,619 | $27,500 |
| 4 | Felician University Lodi Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $95,990 | 213 | 47% | $41,497 | $31,000 |
| 5 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public · Bachelor's degree | $95,153 | 146 | 70% | — | $26,500 |
| 6 | Bloomfield College of Montclair State University Bloomfield Public · Bachelor's degree | $93,291 | 33 | 38% | $20,940 | $35,000 |
| 7 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public · Bachelor's degree | $92,257 | 726 | 44% | — | $24,000 |
| 8 | Seton Hall University South Orange Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $91,908 | 208 | 69% | $27,376 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus Teaneck Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $91,523 | 106 | 53% | $18,059 | $26,500 |
| 10 | New Jersey City University Jersey City Public · Bachelor's degree | $90,730 | 80 | 34% | — | $28,000 |
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 | Ocean County College Toms River Public · Associate degree | $82,925 | 133 | 42% | — | $22,418 |
| 2 | UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey Cranford Public · Associate degree | $82,581 | 323 | 35% | — | $30,195 |
| 3 | Raritan Valley Community College Branchburg Public · Associate degree | $82,020 | 68 | 31% | — | $19,145 |
| 4 | Brookdale Community College Lincroft Public · Associate degree | $80,574 | 126 | 30% | — | $19,366 |
| 5 | Jersey College Teterboro Private for-profit · Associate degree | $79,852 | 773 | 45% | $29,255 | $37,010 |
| 6 | Holy Name Medical Center - Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing Englewood Cliffs Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $78,831 | 61 | 100% | $21,187 | $28,794 |
| 7 | Camden County College Blackwood Public · Associate degree | $76,681 | 132 | 31% | — | $22,600 |
| 8 | Salem Community College Carneys Point Public · Associate degree | $74,062 | 49 | 40% | — | $25,395 |
| 9 | Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing Public · Associate degree | $73,336 | 84 | 30% | — | $21,000 |
| 10 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester Campus Sewell Public · Associate degree | $71,929 | 50 | 39% | — | $17,125 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing 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 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne Public | 726 | $92,257 |
| 2 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick Public | 440 | $87,594* |
| 3 | Chamberlain University - New Jersey North Brunswick Private for-profit | 323 | $83,188 |
| 4 | Rutgers University - Camden Camden Public | 262 | $87,594* |
| 5 | Felician University Lodi Private not-for-profit | 213 | $95,990 |
| 6 | Seton Hall University South Orange Private not-for-profit | 208 | $91,908 |
| 7 | JFK Muhlenberg Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder Schools Plainfield Private not-for-profit | 169 | Not reported |
| 8 | Eastwick College - Hackensack Hackensack Private for-profit | 149 | Not reported |
| 9 | Ramapo College of New Jersey Mahwah Public | 146 | $95,153 |
| 10 | Rowan University Glassboro Public | 143 | $84,859 |
ShowHide the other 41 New Jersey colleges offering Registered Nursing
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in New Jersey
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in New Jersey.
Which New Jersey colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
William Paterson University of New Jersey (726 graduates a year), Rutgers University - New Brunswick (440 graduates a year) and Chamberlain University - New Jersey (323 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in New Jersey, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 51 New Jersey colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in New Jersey?+
By graduate earnings, Montclair State University leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in New Jersey, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $104,219, College Scorecard. Kean University and Saint Elizabeth University follow. By degrees awarded, William Paterson University of New Jersey is the largest, with 726 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in New Jersey has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Montclair State University tops the list at $104,219. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in New Jersey?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in New Jersey is $110,100 (median $106,500), across about 92,680 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's 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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