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# Best Art & Design Colleges in New Jersey (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Programs in this field[Drama and Theatre Arts](/rankings/best-drama-and-theatre-arts-programs-in-new-jersey/)[Music](/rankings/best-music-programs-in-new-jersey/)

This page ranks the 17 Art & Design programs in New Jersey by median earnings of Art & Design graduates four years after completing. Across the 15 schools with a published figure, median earnings range from $66,488 to $25,194, with a median of $50,299.

[New Jersey Institute of Technology](/school/new-jersey-institute-of-technology/majors/) ranks 1st on this list, reporting $66,488 for its graduates four years after completing. The gap between the top two schools is $4,545.

For 1 of the 17 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list includes 10 public and 7 private nonprofit schools. Kean University posts the lowest average net price at $12,447.

[Stevens Institute of Technology](/school/stevens-institute-of-technology/majors/) reports the highest six-year completion rate, graduating 87% of its students within six years. Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

17 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Art & Design Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | New Jersey Institute of Technology · Newark, NJ | $66,488 | $16,504 | $10,138 | 65.1% |
|  | [New Jersey Institute of Technology](/school/new-jersey-institute-of-technology/majors/) reports [median earnings of $66,488](/school/new-jersey-institute-of-technology/outcomes/) for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (21 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (6 graduates) |
| 2 | Stevens Institute of Technology · Hoboken, NJ | $61,943 | $41,346 | $27,221 | 47.6% |
|  | [Stevens Institute of Technology](/school/stevens-institute-of-technology/majors/) lists a [six-year completion rate of 87%](/school/stevens-institute-of-technology/outcomes/) and median earnings of $61,943 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (21 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (12 graduates) |
| 3 | Monmouth University · West Long Branch, NJ | $55,526 | $30,988 | $18,924 | 89.0% |
|  | [Monmouth University](/school/monmouth-university/majors/) [admits 89% of applicants](/school/monmouth-university/admissions/) and posts median earnings of $55,526 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (26 graduates), Design and Applied Arts (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($55,526) |
| 4 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick · New Brunswick, NJ | $53,691 | $24,406 | $16,343 | 58.2% |
|  | [Rutgers University-New Brunswick](/school/rutgers-university-new-brunswick/majors/) [ranks 30th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/rutgers-university-new-brunswick/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, the strongest position on the page. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (48 graduates), Music (44 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (38 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($56,008), Fine and Studio Arts ($52,450) |
| 5 | Seton Hall University · South Orange, NJ | $51,509 | $31,446 | $19,623 | 73.3% |
|  | Seton Hall University shows an average net price of $19,623 for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $51,509 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (15 graduates) |
| 6 | The College of New Jersey · Ewing, NJ | $51,033 | $27,646 | $7,908 | 62.3% |
|  | [The College of New Jersey](/school/the-college-of-new-jersey/majors/) reports a [six-year completion rate of 86%](/school/the-college-of-new-jersey/outcomes/) and an average net price of $7,908 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (58 graduates), Music (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($51,033) |
| 7 | Centenary University · Hackettstown, NJ | $50,746 | $20,503 | $13,329 | 83.1% |
|  | Centenary University ranks 7th on this list and reports a six-year completion rate of 56%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (18 graduates), Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management (9 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($50,746) |
| 8 | Kean University · Union, NJ | $50,299 | $12,447 | $7,374 | 75.9% |
|  | [Kean University](/school/kean-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $12,447,](/school/kean-university/cost/) the lowest all-incomes figure among the schools shown. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (92 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (22 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($56,666), Fine and Studio Arts ($40,213) |
| 9 | Montclair State University · Montclair, NJ | $47,980 | $15,566 | $10,880 | 87.9% |
|  | [Montclair State University](/school/montclair-state-university/majors/) [admits 88% of applicants](/school/montclair-state-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $47,980 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Design and Applied Arts (86 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (61 graduates), Music (59 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Design and Applied Arts ($56,176), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($50,790), Music ($50,418) |
| 10 | Rowan University · Glassboro, NJ | $45,609 | $22,408 | $15,305 | 77.7% |
|  | [Rowan University](/school/rowan-university/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 67%](/school/rowan-university/outcomes/) and median earnings of $45,609 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (63 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (61 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (28 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($47,208), Fine and Studio Arts ($47,176), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft ($38,597) |
| 11 | Ramapo College of New Jersey · Mahwah, NJ | $42,720 | $18,173 | $9,008 | 70.6% |
|  | [Ramapo College of New Jersey](/school/ramapo-college-of-new-jersey/majors/) reports an [average net price of $9,008](/school/ramapo-college-of-new-jersey/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 70%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Visual and Performing Arts, General (25 graduates), Music (22 graduates), Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Music ($41,659) |
| 12 | William Paterson University of New Jersey · Wayne, NJ | $41,991 | $18,745 | $16,171 | 90.1% |
|  | [William Paterson University of New Jersey](/school/william-paterson-university-of-new-jersey/majors/) [admits 90% of applicants](/school/william-paterson-university-of-new-jersey/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $41,991 for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (56 graduates), Music (53 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($44,298) |
| 13 | Stockton University · Galloway, NJ | $40,777 | $20,670 | $15,135 | 88.9% |
|  | [Stockton University](/school/stockton-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $40,777](/school/stockton-university/outcomes/) for its Art & Design graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate reaches 69%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (37 graduates), Visual and Performing Arts, General (23 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($41,137), Visual and Performing Arts, General ($40,199) |
| 14 | Rider University · Lawrenceville, NJ | No published median | $24,792 | $15,824 | 78.6% |
|  | A private nonprofit institution in Lawrenceville, [Rider University](/school/rider-university/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and carries an [average net price of $24,792](/school/rider-university/cost/). |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Music (45 graduates), Film/Video and Photographic Arts (24 graduates), Dance (17 graduates) |
| 15 | New Jersey City University · Jersey City, NJ | $38,737 | $16,053 | $14,005 | 98.4% |
|  | [New Jersey City University](/school/new-jersey-city-university/majors/) [admits 98% of applicants](/school/new-jersey-city-university/admissions/) and posts a six-year completion rate of 34%, while its Art & Design graduates earn a median of $38,737 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (36 graduates), Music (28 graduates), Dance (7 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Fine and Studio Arts ($41,077), Music ($35,729) |
| 16 | Drew University · Madison, NJ | No published median | $24,280 | $15,224 | 67.8% |
|  | Ranking 1044th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, Drew University graduates 70% of its students within six years. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (12 graduates), Fine and Studio Arts (9 graduates) |
| 17 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus · Teaneck, NJ | $25,194 | $15,404 | $10,218 | 90.7% |
|  | [Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus](/school/fairleigh-dickinson-university-metropolitan-campus/majors/) reports [median earnings of $25,194](/school/fairleigh-dickinson-university-metropolitan-campus/outcomes/) for its Art & Design graduates two years after completing, alongside an average net price of $10,218 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Fine and Studio Arts (6 graduates) |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Art & Design graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Art & Design earnings cohort in New Jersey appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 1 of the 17 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 15 schools with a published figure. New Jersey Institute of Technology leads at $66,488, and the gap to second-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology is $4,545.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges/)
-   [Best Colleges in New Jersey](/rankings/best-colleges-in-new-jersey/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in Florida](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-florida/)
-   [Top Art & Design Colleges in California by Earnings](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in Kentucky](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-kentucky/)
-   [Best Art & Design Colleges in Georgia](/rankings/best-art-and-design-colleges-in-georgia/)
-   Art & Design Colleges in New Jersey for Social Mobility