New Jersey doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 19 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 19 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. New Brunswick came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In New Jersey For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where New Jersey's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | Rutgers University-New Brunswick, New Brunswick Theological Seminary |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 37,751 (67 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 56,345 |
| Median rent | $1,814 |
| Graduation rate | 84% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $36,993 |
New Brunswick is home to Rutgers University-New Brunswick, New Brunswick Theological Seminary. There are 67 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,814 a month, and the average cost to attend is $36,993 a year. It ranks 19th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Caldwell University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,575 (17 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 9,003 |
| Median rent | $1,976 |
| Graduation rate | 71% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $54,073 |
Caldwell is home to Caldwell University. There are 17 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,976 a month, and the average cost to attend is $54,073 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Rutgers University-Camden |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,753 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 71,496 |
| Median rent | $1,226 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,178 |
Camden is home to Rutgers University-Camden. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,226 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,178 a year. It ranks 11th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Eastwick College-Ramsey |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,203 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 14,805 |
| Median rent | $2,245 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $32,704 |
Ramsey is home to Eastwick College-Ramsey. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,245 a month, and the average cost to attend is $32,704 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Felician University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,774 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 26,082 |
| Median rent | $1,714 |
| Graduation rate | 58% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $50,316 |
Lodi is home to Felician University. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,714 a month, and the average cost to attend is $50,316 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Rowan University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 15,841 (67 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 23,717 |
| Median rent | $1,687 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,842 |
Glassboro is home to Rowan University. There are 67 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,687 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,842 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University-Newark, Pillar College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 17,226 (6 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 310,178 |
| Median rent | $1,392 |
| Graduation rate | 63% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,520 |
Newark is home to New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University-Newark, Pillar College. There are 6 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,392 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,520 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Berkeley College-Woodland Park |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,778 (13 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 13,355 |
| Median rent | $1,839 |
| Graduation rate | 51% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $44,691 |
Woodland Park is home to Berkeley College-Woodland Park. There are 13 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,839 a month, and the average cost to attend is $44,691 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, Drew University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,523 (21 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 16,447 |
| Median rent | $2,253 |
| Graduation rate | 72% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $59,752 |
Madison is home to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, Drew University. There are 21 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,253 a month, and the average cost to attend is $59,752 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Saint Elizabeth University, Rabbinical College of America |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 738 (4 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 20,453 |
| Median rent | $2,274 |
| Graduation rate | 44% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $40,188 |
Morristown is home to Saint Elizabeth University, Rabbinical College of America. There are 4 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $2,274 a month, and the average cost to attend is $40,188 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in New Jersey
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 19 towns in New Jersey that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in New Jersey.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in New Jersey.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In New Jersey
If you're looking for the best college towns in New Jersey, New Brunswick is where to start.
The best college towns in New Jersey are New Brunswick, Caldwell, Camden, Ramsey, Lodi, Glassboro, Newark, Woodland Park, Madison, and Morristown.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in New Jersey for 2026?
New Brunswick is the best college town in New Jersey for 2026, followed by Caldwell and Camden.
How did you rank the best college towns in New Jersey?
We looked at every town in New Jersey with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in New Jersey?
Iselin ranks last of the 19 college towns we ranked in New Jersey for 2026.
Best College Towns In New Jersey For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Brunswick, NJ | 56,345 | 37,751 | $1,814 |
| 2 | Caldwell, NJ | 9,003 | 1,575 | $1,976 |
| 3 | Camden, NJ | 71,496 | 3,753 | $1,226 |
| 4 | Ramsey, NJ | 14,805 | 1,203 | $2,245 |
| 5 | Lodi, NJ | 26,082 | 1,774 | $1,714 |
| 6 | Glassboro, NJ | 23,717 | 15,841 | $1,687 |
| 7 | Newark, NJ | 310,178 | 17,226 | $1,392 |
| 8 | Woodland Park, NJ | 13,355 | 1,778 | $1,839 |
| 9 | Madison, NJ | 16,447 | 3,523 | $2,253 |
| 10 | Morristown, NJ | 20,453 | 738 | $2,274 |
| 11 | Jersey City, NJ | 294,078 | 6,311 | $2,007 |
| 12 | Lakewood, NJ | 69,585 | 7,386 | $1,718 |
| 13 | Hoboken, NJ | 58,668 | 4,222 | $2,938 |
| 14 | Hackensack, NJ | 46,057 | 1,171 | $1,911 |
| 15 | Keyport, NJ | 7,171 | 30 | $1,458 |
| 16 | West Long Branch, NJ | 8,586 | 3,684 | $1,970 |
| 17 | North Plainfield, NJ | 22,809 | 81 | $1,752 |
| 18 | Elizabeth, NJ | 137,302 | 90 | $1,523 |
| 19 | Iselin, NJ | 19,551 | 62 | $2,113 |
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