Rutgers University-New Brunswick sits at No. 1 on the latest NJBIZ list of top universities and colleges, with 52,269 students in fall 2024.

This list is based on total enrollment as of fall 2024. These 25 institutions represent higher education across New Jersey, from Newark to Camden, Mahwah to Galloway, serving over 250,000 students through systems established between 1746 and 1981.

Montclair State University follows Rutgers with 23,375 students. Kean University, founded in 1855, holds position four with 18,000 students from 36 states and 88 countries.

Middlesex College, a community college in Edison, enrolls 12,059 students—4,378 full time and 7,681 part time. Thomas Edison State University operates with a structure of 179 full-time and 10,453 part-time students. Princeton University, established in 1746, ranks at No. 11 with 9,186 students.

Public institutions dominate the enrollment numbers, with research universities at the top positions. The list includes four community colleges among the top 25 institutions.

Leadership

Leadership changes across New Jersey institutions in 2024 include Monsignor Joseph Reilly became Seton Hall University’s president, Michael Bernstein transitioned from interim to permanent president at The College of New Jersey and Hubert Benitez took helm at Saint Peter’s replacing Eugene Cornacchia, who moved to Georgian Court University in February 2025.

Jonathan Holloway, Rutgers president since 2020, will step down June 30, 2025.

Gregory Dell’Omo also announced his retirement from Rider University, effective July 31, 2025. New Jersey City University extended Andrés Acebo’s interim presidency through June 30, 2026.

Comcast Business and Provident Bank are Premium Publication Sponsors of NJBIZ’s 2025 Book of Lists. Go to the NJBIZ Leads & Data Center to download the complete Colleges & Universities list or any other NJBIZ list. Subscribe to NJBIZ’s Leads & Data center to gain year-round access to the data from NJBIZ lists.

Claude.ai assisted with the creation of this article based on NJBIZ data.