In-State Universities Gain Favor With NJ Students

New Jersey has long been known for its “brain drain,” due to the vast number of students who head out-of-state for college.  But if recent statistics are any indication, local students are taking note of colleges and universities within the Garden State.

The most popular colleges, along with the number attending, from Hillsborough High School’s 2020 graduating class included many New Jersey institutions: Raritan Valley Community College (109), Rutgers University – New Brunswick (72), The College of New Jersey (21), Rowan University (17), Stevens Institute of Technology (8), Montclair State University (8), Ramapo College of New Jersey (6), and Drew University (6).

Those who left New Jersey tended to favor nearby state universities, including University of Delaware (15), Penn State University (9), University of Maryland (9), and University of Pittsburgh (7).

Other schools that topped the list with Hillsborough students were Northeastern University (9), West Chester University (5), University of Michigan (5), University of California – Berkeley (5), New York University (5), and Temple University (5).

Princeton High School statistics for graduates in the classes of 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 indicate that Rutgers University was the most popular, gaining 123 of its students. Other colleges and universities that enrolled large numbers of Princeton High School graduates are Princeton University (78), New York University (38), Cornell University (33), Northeastern University (26), University of California (23), University of Pennsylvania (22), Carnegie Mellon University (21) and George Washington University (21). 

While many New Jersey students stay in-state for college, why does the “brain drain” still exist?  New Jersey is a small state, making it easy for students to cross the border to attend college while still remaining close to home.  New Jersey is also an expensive state. The high cost of attending college in New Jersey -- even the public universities --  makes out-of-state schools extremely attractive when they offer substantial scholarship funds.    

Colleges in neighboring states actively recruit New Jersey students due to our many stellar schools and strong applicants. Institutions particularly popular with New Jersey students are: University of Delaware, Drexel University, New York University, Villanova University, Temple University, Saint Joseph’s University, Syracuse University, Lehigh University, University of Maryland - College Park, Towson University, University of Rhode Island, University of Scranton, James Madison University, Boston University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Michigan, Cornell University, George Washington University, Pace University, Johnson & Wales University, Quinnipiac University, West Chester University, Northeastern University, and Loyola University. 

Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review that, for the past 25 years, has offered PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362