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The basics:

• U.S. News releases 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings
• Multiple New Jersey universities rank across MBA, law, engineering, health programs
• Princeton University No. 25 in engineering schools
• Rutgers programs rank in several categories including business, nursing, education

Thinking of going back to school for an advanced degree? U.S. News & World Report‘s 2026 Best Graduate Schools may help narrow down your choices. 

Released April 7, the lists evaluate programs across business, law, health care, engineering, education and more. As in previous years, several New Jersey universities ranked. 

The publication pointed to several changes for the 2026 rankings. This year’s list includes six times as many business schools compared with previous editions in various specialty fields. 

Among other updates, U.S. News also included a master’s in fine arts list for the first time since 2020. The highest-ranking school in New Jersey in that field of study was Rutgers University–New Brunswick, landing at No. 8.

Montclair State University (tied for No. 162) and William Paterson University (tied for No. 176) also made the grade in fine arts.

The publication again noted that methodologies this year vary by discipline and degree level. For example, several schools rank by number, while degrees in numerous health care fields appear grouped in tiers and alphabetically. See how U.S. News calculated the rankings here.

U.S. News made this change in 2024 after some higher education institutions criticized previous methodologies. Some lists also include a group of schools in a numerical range; these landed in the bottom 10% of that particular ranking and appear alphabetically. 

‘A major commitment’

In general, participating universities are evaluated on their submitted statistical surveys. Schools that choose not to participate in the surveys are not ranked, other than law schools.

U.S. News analyzes “expert opinion about program excellence and statistical indicators that measure the quality of a school’s academic productivity and postgraduate outcomes.”

“We know a graduate degree is a major commitment. That is why we are dedicated to methodologies that thoroughly examine a wide range of factors, from research excellence to career success,” LaMont Jones, managing editor of education at U.S. News, said in the announcement accompanying the lists. 

Below are New Jersey university scores for some spotlighted lists on the U.S. News feature. All disciplines can be found here.

NJ institutions named to U.S. News 2026 Best Graduate Schools: 

Best Business Schools 

Full-time MBA

• No. 63 (tie): Rutgers University–Newark and New Brunswick  
• No. 72 (tie): Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken 
• No. 123–134: New Jersey Institute of Technology (Martin Tuchman School of Management), Newark 
• 11 others unranked

Part-time MBA

• No. 35 (tie): Rutgers University–Newark and New Brunswick 
• No. 59 (tie): Seton Hall University (Stillman School of Business), South Orange 
• No. 123 (tie): Rutgers University–Camden 
• No. 184 (tie): Rider University (Norm Brodsky College of Business), Lawrenceville 
• No. 192 (tie): Fairleigh Dickinson University (Silberman College of Business), Teaneck
• No. 200 (tie): Monmouth University (Leon Hess Business School), West Long Branch 
• No. 200 (tie): Rowan University (Rohrer College of Business), Glassboro 
• No. 211: Montclair State University (Feliciano School of Business), Montclair 
• No. 220: New Jersey Institute of Technology (Tuchman), Newark 

Best Law Schools 

• No. 70 (tie): Seton Hall University, Newark (also tied for No. 11 in part-time law schools) 
• No. 100 (tie): Rutgers University, Newark (also ranked No. 23 in part-time law schools) 

Best Medical Schools

Research 

• Tier 2: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School–Newark
• Tier 2: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School–New Brunswick (Johnson)
• Three others named to Tier 3 

Primary Care 

• Tier 2: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University–Camden 
• Four others named to Tier 3, Tier 4 and unranked 

Best Engineering Schools 

• No. 25 (tie): Princeton University, Princeton 
• No. 68 (tie): Rutgers University–New Brunswick 
• No. 76 (tie): Stevens Institute of Technology (Schaefer School of Engineering & Science), Hoboken 
• No. 94 (tie): New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark 
• No. 134 (tie) Rowan University, Glassboro 

Best Nursing Schools

Master’s 

• No. 16: Rutgers University–Newark 
• No. 67 (tie): Rutgers University–Camden 
• No. 83 (tie): Fairleigh Dickinson University (Henry P. Becton College of Nursing and Allied Health), Teaneck
• No. 131 (tie): William Paterson University of New Jersey, Wayne 

Doctor of Nursing Practice 

• No. 12 (tie): Rutgers University–Newark
• No. 74 (tie): Rutgers University–Camden
• No. 141-154: William Paterson University of New Jersey, Wayne 

Best Education Schools 

• No. 47 (tie): Rutgers University–New Brunswick 
• No. 104 (tie): Montclair State University, Upper Montclair 
• No. 104 (tie): Rowan University, Glassboro 
• No. 197 (tie): Seton Hall University, South Orange 
• No. 219 (tie): Kean University, Union 
• No. 219 (tie): Monmouth University, West Long Branch 
• No. 238-263: Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck 
• Six others unranked 

What they’re saying: 

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University: 

The institution shared its news with NJBIZ, noting this is the third consecutive year U.S. News has recognized CMSRU among its Best Medical Schools. 

“This continued recognition reflects the outstanding dedication of our faculty, students, and staff, and underscores our mission to educate compassionate physicians who will fulfill the critical need for primary care doctors in New Jersey and across the nation,” said Dr. Annette Reboli, dean of CMSRU. 

Montclair State: 

“We are very proud of this recognition of the exceptional quality of Montclair State University’s graduate programs,” interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Fatma Mili said in a statement. “It affirms our mission to provide excellent education and make it accessible to students in our communities and beyond. These programs have been specifically designed to meet the needs of the region’s workforce and to allow professionals to upgrade their skills in ways that fit their lives and careers. These rankings show why Montclair continues to be a top-choice institution for students at all stages of their lives.” 

NJIT: 

“New Jersey Institute of Technology graduate programs in business and engineering are again represented in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings, with several engineering specialties improving their standing and the Martin Tuchman School of Management earning a set of first-time specialty rankings,” the university noted, further breaking down its rankings. 

Seton Hall: 

“The Best Graduate Schools rankings evaluate programs annually using a range of key indicators, including enrollment and faculty data, to help prospective students make informed decisions about their options for advanced study,” the university said in a statement. “Taken together, this year’s results reflect Seton Hall’s continued strength in graduate education across high-demand professional fields.”