Meg McClenahan 
The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse Rankings have released their 2026 list of the top 500 universities in the United States. Montclair State University is already a winner in our eyes, but The Wall Street Journal confirms it — it was ranked the No. 1 Public Institution in New Jersey. Read more to find out what factors led to the historic ranking and how success is measured.
How the Rankings are Measured
The Wall Street Journal/College Push “2026 Best Colleges in the U.S.” study focuses on how well the college prepares its students for financial success. The list also factors in graduation rates, diversity, and learning environment. 120,000 students and alumni were polled on factors like quality of teaching, career preparation, and how likely they would recommend the school to a friend. Schools that rank well have proven to boost graduates’ salaries at a rate higher than comparable institutions.
Read More: A Montclair State Student’s Local Guide to Montclair
Montclair State University’s Rankings
Montclair State University has been named the number one public university in New Jersey by The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse Beats. Montclair State has broken into the top 30 public universities in the United States list for the first time, coming in at number 29. Overall, Montclair State has ranked number 67 out of 584 colleges and universities surveyed.
A significant factor in Montclair State’s high score was the financial success of students after graduation. The average Montclair State salary boost was compared to the net cost of attending the institution per student in order to determine the length it would take to pay off the institution’s attendance price. The metric for Montclair State was that it would, on average, take one year and seven months to pay off the cost of attendance with the salary boost.
High rankings in other categories also helped boost Montclair State’s ranking. Montclair State’s personnel rankings were high in Diversity with a score of 92 out of 100, and a Graduation Rate Score of 94 out of 100. The polling results from alumni and students ranked MSU in the 60s to mid 70s. Montclair State University’s overall score was a 79 with an overall rank of 67.
See More: Stevens Institute of Technology Introduces Free Tuition Program
Follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest Montclair updates, sign up for our weekly newsletter here that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
