Princeton lands at No. 4 on Forbes Top Colleges List

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Forbes released its 14th annual list of America’s Top Colleges on Tuesday, with 15 Garden State schools making the cut—including Princeton University at No. 4. 

Forbes ranked U.S. colleges and universities based on the return on investment and outcomes they delivered for their students, the publication said in a statement. Factors that moved schools higher on the list included if students graduated on time, secured high salaries and low debt, and went on to have successful careers. 

In 2021, the methodology was updated to include data that better gauges alumni salaries, a new metric that determines how quickly graduates are able to pay off their tuition, and how well schools serve low-income students. 

The New Jersey schools that made the list are: 

• No. 4: Princeton University (Princeton)
• No. 75. New Jersey Institute of Technology (Newark)
• No. 93: Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
• No. 151: Rutgers University-Newark 
• No. 185: The College of New Jersey (Ewing)
• No. 226: Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken)
• No. 245: Rutgers University-Camden 
• No. 247: Seton Hall University (South Orange)
• No. 254: Rowan University (Glassboro)
• No. 265: Ramapo College of New Jersey (Mahwah)
• No. 284: Montclair State University (Montclair)
• No. 396: Fairleigh Dickinson University (Madison and Teaneck)
• No. 408: Drew University (Madison)
• No. 412: Monmouth University (West Long Branch)
• No. 419: Saint Peter’s University (Jersey City)

The overall leaders were Massachusetts Institute of Technology at No. 1 and Stanford University at No. 2. See the full list here.

“We’re proud to spotlight the colleges and universities that are offering top academics and career success while minimizing debt for students across America,” Emma Whitford, senior education reporter at Forbes, said in a statement. “We know that a college degree is a significant investment for any student, and one that’s been compounded by recent years of financial turmoil for many. This list reflects the public and private universities that are going above and beyond to deliver on that investment.” 

The Princeton Review’s Best 388 Colleges for 2023 also came out in August, with nine New Jersey schools included.