New Jersey College Tuition Trends from 2015 to 2025

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Tuition trends by school type and level for New Jersey colleges

There are 62 four-year colleges and universities in New Jersey—13 public institutions and 49 private institutions. This page summarizes average tuition & fees and how costs have changed over time based on the latest available IPEDS data.

Undergraduate Tuition Trends

Public colleges: In 2025, average in-state tuition & fees are $16,106, while out-of-state tuition & fees are $27,014. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 4.81% and out-of-state costs changed by 1.44%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 29.42% (in-state) and 22.30% (out-of-state).

Private colleges: The average tuition & fees are $23,466 in 2025. That is a 1.61% change from last year and 0.35% cumulative growth since 2015.

Graduate Tuition Trends

Public graduate schools: In 2025, average in-state graduate tuition & fees are $19,480, while out-of-state graduate tuition & fees are $25,126. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 4.41% and out-of-state costs changed by 1.53%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 27.85% (in-state) and 16.92% (out-of-state).

Private graduate schools: The average graduate tuition & fees are $22,350 in 2025. That is a 1.31% change from last year and 21.31% cumulative growth since 2015.

Public vs. private comparison (increase rates): In 2025, private undergraduate tuition changed by 1.61% year-over-year. Public undergraduate in-state changed by 4.81% (higher by 3.20 percentage points vs. private), and public out-of-state changed by 1.44% (lower by 0.17 percentage points vs. private). Over the full period since 2015, private undergraduate tuition grew by 0.35%, compared with public in-state 29.42% (higher by 29.07 percentage points vs. private) and public out-of-state 22.30% (higher by 21.95 percentage points vs. private).

Graduate comparison: In 2025, private graduate tuition changed by 1.31% year-over-year. Public graduate in-state changed by 4.41% (higher by 3.11 percentage points vs. private), and public graduate out-of-state changed by 1.53% (higher by 0.22 percentage points vs. private). Since 2015, private graduate tuition grew by 21.31%, compared with public graduate in-state 27.85% (higher by 6.54 percentage points vs. private) and public graduate out-of-state 16.92% (lower by 4.39 percentage points vs. private).

COA Trends

Undergraduate cost of attendance change by school type (tuition & fees + room & board): In 2025, estimated on-campus COA is $30,357 (public in-state), $41,265 (public out-of-state), and $37,716 (private). Year-over-year, on-campus COA changed by 1.11%, -0.05%, and -0.09%, respectively. Since 2015, cumulative on-campus COA growth is 19.16% (public in-state), 17.50% (public out-of-state), and 3.58% (private).

Off-campus COA: In 2025, estimated off-campus COA is $35,750 (public in-state), $46,658 (public out-of-state), and $43,109 (private). Year-over-year, off-campus COA changed by -2.46%, -2.63%, and -2.86%. Since 2015, cumulative off-campus COA growth is 30.02% (public in-state), 25.63% (public out-of-state), and 12.16% (private).

Tuition & Fees Trends of New Jersey Colleges from 2015 to 2025

The tables and charts below show how average college tuition and fees have changed in New Jersey from 2015 through 2025.

All figures are based on the latest available IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data published by the U.S. Department of Education. To keep the comparisons consistent, these averages reflect 4-year colleges and universities in New Jersey and exclude most community colleges and trade schools due to differences in reporting and availability.

Under. (Public) Under. (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)
For New Jersey public schools, the 2025 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $16,106 which has increased by 29.42% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $27,014 which has risen by 22.30%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.23% while last year increase rate was 1.44%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for New Jersey Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$12,747$13,004$13,361$13,668$14,015$13,963$14,503$14,793$15,367$16,106
Year-to-Year Rates2.43%2.02%2.74%2.30%2.54%-0.38%3.87%2.00%3.88%4.81%
Cumulative Rates2.43%4.49%7.36%9.83%12.62%12.19%16.54%18.87%23.48%29.42%
Out-of-State Costs$22,677$23,071$23,598$24,101$24,664$24,710$25,442$26,130$26,632$27,014
Year-to-Year Rates2.66%1.73%2.29%2.13%2.34%0.19%2.97%2.70%1.92%1.44%
Cumulative Rates2.66%4.44%6.83%9.11%11.65%11.86%15.18%18.29%20.56%22.30%
For private schools in New Jersey state, the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $23,466 which has increased by 0.35% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 0.04% while last year increase rate was 1.61%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for New Jersey Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$24,054$24,392$23,987$22,366$21,976$21,944$21,990$22,529$23,094$23,466
Year-to-Year Rates2.87%1.41%-1.66%-6.76%-1.75%-0.15%0.21%2.45%2.50%1.61%
Cumulative Rates2.87%4.31%2.58%-4.35%-6.02%-6.16%-5.96%-3.65%-1.24%0.35%
The average graduate school tuition & fees of New Jersey public schools are $19,480 which has increased by 27.85% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $25,126 which has risen by 16.92%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 1.69% while last year increase rate was 1.53%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for New Jersey Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$15,626$15,864$16,213$16,574$16,880$17,194$17,332$17,807$18,657$19,480
Year-to-Year Rates2.56%1.52%2.20%2.23%1.84%1.86%0.80%2.74%4.77%4.41%
Cumulative Rates2.56%4.12%6.41%8.78%10.79%12.85%13.75%16.87%22.45%27.85%
Out-of-State Costs$21,780$22,080$22,576$23,053$23,523$23,271$23,087$23,639$24,748$25,126
Year-to-Year Rates1.35%1.38%2.25%2.11%2.04%-1.07%-0.79%2.39%4.69%1.53%
Cumulative Rates1.35%2.75%5.06%7.28%9.46%8.29%7.44%10.00%15.16%16.92%
For private graduate schools in New Jersey state, the 2025 tuition & fees are $22,350 which has increased by 21.31% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 2.13117% while last year increase rate was 1.31%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for New Jersey Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$19,164$19,746$20,413$20,406$20,533$19,938$20,299$21,807$22,061$22,350
Year-to-Year Rates4.02%3.04%3.38%-0.03%0.62%-2.90%1.81%7.43%1.16%1.31%
Cumulative Rates4.02%7.18%10.80%10.76%11.45%8.22%10.18%18.37%19.75%21.31%
You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at New Jersey college cost trends.