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New Jersey’s higher education sector experienced transformation in 2025, with enrollment patterns and leadership changes reshaping the landscape.

According to fall 2024 enrollment data ranked by student population, Rutgers University-New Brunswick leads with 52,269 students, followed by Montclair State University at 23,375 students.

The sector witnessed consolidation activity as Kean University and New Jersey City University pursued a merger. The institutions signed a Letter of Intent in May 2025, with regulatory approval targeted for June 2026. Upon completion, NJCU would operate as Kean Jersey City, combining their enrollments of 18,000 and 5,430 students, respectively.

Leadership transitions occurred across multiple institutions. William Tate IV assumed the presidency of Rutgers University in July 2025, replacing Jonathan Holloway. New Jersey City University appointed Andrés Acebo as its permanent president after removing his interim title. Rider University selected John Loyack as president, succeeding Gregory Dell’Omo.

Community colleges represent a portion of the top 25 institutions, with Middlesex College leading this segment at 12,059 students.

These developments indicate ongoing restructuring within New Jersey’s higher education market, with institutions pursuing growth through merger activity while managing leadership succession planning.

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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 to gain year-round access to the data from NJBIZ lists. 

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