College Azimuth

College research / Rankings

Best Education Colleges in New Jersey (2026)

Updated

This page ranks the 13 colleges in New Jersey that report earnings for their Education graduates, ordered by median earnings of Education graduates four years after completing. Seton Hall University leads the list at $67,233, followed by Montclair State University at $65,007 and Monmouth University at $63,068.

Across the 11 schools with a reported completion median, median earnings reach $60,433, with a spread of $23,063 from the top to the bottom of the list.

The group splits almost evenly: 6 public and 7 private nonprofit institutions. Montclair State University holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank, placing 56th among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.

Saint Peter's University posts the lowest average net price on the page at $12,199, while The College of New Jersey reports the highest six-year completion rate at 86%.

The ranked list

13 schools in list order
RankSchoolMedian Education EarningsAverage net priceNet price, families under $30KAdmission rate
1Seton Hall University · South Orange, NJ$67,233$31,446$19,62373.3%
Seton Hall University reports $67,233 in median earnings for its Education graduates four years after completing, and ranks 445th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Special Education and Teaching (20 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (20 graduates)

2Montclair State University · Montclair, NJ$65,007$15,566$10,88087.9%
With an average net price of $15,566, Montclair State University admits 88% of applicants and graduates 65% within six years.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (54 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (20 graduates)

Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($65,007)

3Monmouth University · West Long Branch, NJ$63,068$30,988$18,92489.0%
Monmouth University posts a six-year completion rate of 72% alongside median earnings of $63,068 for its Education graduates four years after completing.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Education, General (60 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (17 graduates)

Highest four-year median earnings by program: Education, General ($63,068)

4The College of New Jersey · Ewing, NJ$62,407$27,646$7,90862.3%
The College of New Jersey admits 62% of applicants and its Education graduates earn a median of $62,407 four years after completing.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (104 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (88 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (76 graduates)

5Saint Peter's University · Jersey City, NJ$62,040$12,199$10,78390.3%
Saint Peter's University ranks 417th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $12,199.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (37 graduates)

6Caldwell University · Caldwell, NJ$60,433$24,691$18,05971.3%
Caldwell University reports median earnings of $60,433 for its Education graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 57%.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (12 graduates)

Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($60,433)

7Rider University · Lawrenceville, NJ$60,414$24,792$15,82478.6%
Rider University admits 79% of applicants and its Education graduates earn a median of $60,414 four years after completing.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (74 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (22 graduates)

Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($61,208), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($60,178)

8Kean University · Union, NJ$60,185$12,447$7,37475.9%
Kean University graduates 47% within six years and reports an average net price of $12,447.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (116 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (42 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (37 graduates)

Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($63,156), Special Education and Teaching ($61,158), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($58,885)

9Centenary University · Hackettstown, NJ$59,467$20,503$13,32983.1%
Centenary University admits 83% of applicants and ranks 844th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (26 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (6 graduates)

Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($61,358)

10Rowan University · Glassboro, NJ$57,739$22,408$15,30577.7%
Rowan University reports median earnings of $57,739 for its Education graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate is 67%.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (167 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (85 graduates), Special Education and Teaching (70 graduates)

Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($57,739)

11Stockton University · Galloway, NJ$56,838$20,670$15,13588.9%
Stockton University admits 89% of applicants and its Education graduates earn a median of $56,838 four years after completing.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (23 graduates)

Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($56,838)

12William Paterson University of New Jersey · Wayne, NJ$50,152$18,745$16,17190.1%
William Paterson University of New Jersey graduates 44% within six years and reports an average net price of $18,745.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (61 graduates), Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (23 graduates)

Highest four-year median earnings by program: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($63,203)

13Felician University · Lodi, NJ$44,170$40,045$39,626Not reported
Felician University, a private nonprofit university in Lodi, reports median earnings of $44,170 for its Education graduates two years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 47%.

Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (13 graduates)

How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Education graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure captures federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after they finished the program. For 1 of the 13 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 differences in who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 11 schools with a reported completion median. Seton Hall University leads Montclair State University by $2,226, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $23,063.

Job market context in New Jersey

Education graduates in New Jersey enter a labor market linked to occupations such as Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, and Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education. Across those occupations the median annual wage is $81,702, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $66,765. The state projects about 16,610 openings a year, or about 1,217 openings a year for every hundred graduates, which is more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 5.6% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, not the occupation-wide wage figures shown here.

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