Study in New Jersey

Although currently most commonly known within popular culture as the home of the Soprano family, and more recently the tan-happy ‘guidos’ and ‘guidettes’ of Jersey Shore as well as the pampered Real Housewives of New Jersey living it up in newly built mansions across the state, New Jersey has much more to offer in term of its strong economy, culture and education. Find out why you should study in New Jersey, and discover the state’s top universities below.

The most densely populated state in the US, New Jersey is only slightly bigger than Rhode Island, Delaware and Connecticut, the three smallest. Located in the north-east of the nation just south of New York, New Jersey is populated with the metropolitan spillover from nearby states, most notably from New York City but also Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland. This spillover accounts for the density of the population, but also means New Jersey is a lively and diversified urban hub with plenty to do and see.

The state is not only home to more scientists and engineers per square mile than anywhere else in the world, but it is also the second wealthiest state in terms of median household income, trailing only slightly behind its neighbor Maryland. The geography of New Jersey is just as diverse as its residents, with wooded mountains in the northwest, the Pine Barrens in the south, a 217 mile coastline to the east, and heavily populated, small urban neighborhoods all around.

If you are considering undertaking study in New Jersey, you’ll be interested to know that five universities in New Jersey are ranked among the world’s best in the 2013/14 QS World University Rankings®, including one member of the prestigious Ivy League.

Princeton University

For those wishing to study in New Jersey, Princeton University is the state’s most prestigious offering, ranked 10^th in the 2013/14 QS World University Rankings® and 7^th in the US. An Ivy League institution, Princeton University is the fourth-oldest school of higher education in the country. Princeton University currently has a student body of just over 8,000 and is located in the affluent municipality of Princeton, 11 miles north of state capital Trenton and 15 miles south of New Brunswick. Notable alumni of Princeton University are writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, actor James Stewart and former presidents Wilson and Madison.

Rutgers – the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick

Rutgers-New Brunswick is the founding campus of the higher education system known as Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey and is ranked joint 255^th in the world and 58^th in the US. The Rutgers-New Brunswick campus, composed of five smaller campuses within New Brunswick and the Piscataway Township, is the largest Rutgers campus and has a student body of over 40,000 students. The main campus is located on the banks of the Raritan River, on the site of the old Rutgers College, in close proximity to downtown New Brunswick, culture, good food and recreational parks. Just across the river is the Rutgers Ecological Preserve, a nature reserve belonging to the university and covering over 370 acres. The area is popular with both the public and Rutgers students for its difficult hiking and mountain biking trails.

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Located in Newark, in the University Heights neighborhood, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is one of four academic institutions in the area, which has given the town something of an extended student village atmosphere. Currently home to just over 10,000 students, the New Jersey Institute of Technology campus has doubled in size in the last 10 years and now offers rooftop gardens, restaurants and a bowling alley. The school also boasts leading research facilities in the fields of science and technology, including a center dedicated to applied genomics. The school is ranked 551-600 in the world and 107^th in the US.

Rutgers – the State University of New Jersey, Newark

Rutgers-Newark is the second of the three campuses belonging to Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey and is ranked 551-600 in the world and 109^th in the US. Once a private liberal arts college, Rutgers-Newark has a current enrollment of just over 12,000 students and holds a research-led focus. Split into several departments, including the arts and sciences, law, nursing, and business, Rutgers-Newark also has strong connections with surrounding communities. The school also holds the accolade of being the most culturally diverse university campus in the whole of the US since 1997, according to the US News & World Report.

Stevens Institute of Technology

Ranked 701+ in the QS World University Rankings and 139^th in the US, the Stevens Institute of Technology is situated in the urban region of Hoboken on the western banks of the Hudson River just across from central Manhattan, therefore boasting both fantastic views of the skyline as well as very close proximity to what is arguably the most popular city on Earth. The campus itself boasts a space of 55 acres with an enrollment of just over 5,200. Renowned for its innovational teaching and research, the school has a strong science and technology focus and was ranked as the top school in the northeast for salary potential, ahead of leading schools such as Harvard and MIT, in Payscale’s 2013/14 College Salary Report.