8 Physical Sciences colleges in New Jersey with strong social mobility outcomes. Average earnings: $64,003.
These 7 Physical Sciences programs in New Jersey aren't just accessible—they deliver results. Each school ranks in the 60th percentile or above for social mobility, meaning they actually enroll and graduate low-income students. Then we ranked them by graduate earnings, finding schools that are both accessible AND high-performing.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick leads the rankings, producing Physical Sciences graduates earning $74,479 while maintaining a 99th percentile mobility score. At $63,118 in average earnings across this list, these programs demonstrate that schools serving low-income students can compete on outcomes, not just access.
Montclair State University serves 44% Pell Grant recipients—students from families earning under $60,000—while still producing graduates earning $61,415. Even better: graduates face just a 14% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. These schools deliver both access AND affordability.
| Rank | School | Graduate Earnings | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS | Mobility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $74,479 | $21,500 | Excellent | $25,294 | Manageable | 99th percentile mobility | |
| #2 | $73,323 | $23,250 | Excellent | $30,611 | Good | 87th percentile mobility | |
| #3 | Seton Hall UniversityPrivate | $70,196 | $22,750 | Excellent | $40,003 | Manageable | 74th percentile mobility |
| #4 | $61,415 | $22,000 | Excellent | $24,693 | Manageable | 98th percentile mobility | |
| #5 | Rowan UniversityPublic | $59,988 | $20,500 | Excellent | $27,445 | Manageable | 94th percentile mobility |
| #6 | $57,780 | — | — | — | — | 90th percentile mobility | |
| #7 | Stockton UniversityPublic | $57,602 | $20,500 | Excellent | $23,182 | Good | 93th percentile mobility |
| #8 | Kean UniversityPublic | $57,237 | — | — | — | — | 92th percentile mobility |
Our social mobility rankings answer: "Which schools deliver the best outcomes for students from low-income backgrounds?"
This is not simply "which schools admit the most low-income students" — it's which schools both serve low-income students and deliver strong earnings outcomes.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
