College Choice, a leading authority in college and university rankings and resources, has published a ranking of the 20 Best Colleges in New Jersey.
http://www.collegechoice.net/rankings/best-colleges-in-new-jersey/

New Jersey also has the unique distinction of being home to two of the nine colleges established in the thirteen colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Nowadays, with New York on its eastern border and Philadelphia on its western side, New Jersey has three public research universities, eight state colleges and universities, and 15 independent four-year colleges.

"All the colleges located in New Jersey also have easy access to a wide variety of world-class events, both cultural and sporting, that a city like New York attracts," Christian Amondson, Managing Editor of College Choice, said of the ranking. "Students at New Jersey colleges are well-placed to enjoy the advantages that accrue to residents of one of the world's economic and cultural centers."

College Choice developed its list by looking at academic quality, institutional reputation, program accreditation, along with return on investment—the differential between tuition costs and average early career earnings. Data came from the National Center for Education Statistics, Payscale, and U.S. News & World Report.

The ranking for the 20 Best Colleges in New Jersey finds Princeton University in the top spot. Stevens Institute of Technology is in second, and Ramapo College of New Jersey rounds out the top three.

The entire ranking, listed in alphabetical order, is as follows:

• Bloomfield College
• Caldwell University
• Centenary University
• Drew University
• Fairleigh Dickinson University-College at Florham
• Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
• Kean University
• Monmouth University
• Montclair State University
• Princeton University
• Ramapo College of New Jersey
• Rowan University
• Rutgers University-Camden
• Rutgers University-New Brunswick
• Rutgers University-Newark
• Saint Peter's University
• Seton Hall University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Stockton University
• The College of New Jersey

College Choice is an independent online publication dedicated to helping students and their families find the right college. The site publishes rankings and reviews that make finding the best colleges for different interests easier and more fun, as well as resources to help students get into, pay for, and thrive at the college of their choice.