Fast Facts

New Jersey’s Independent Colleges & Universities

The 14 independent colleges and universities in New Jersey have a long history of meeting the needs of the State and its residents. The following is a quick list of how independent higher education continues to play a critical role in the advancement of the State of New Jersey and its residents.

 
Enabling Student Success

• Our member institutions enrolled 65,735 students in Fall 2012 providing opportunities for students to find the right academic, cultural and social blend to enhance individual learning.
• We enroll 25% of all students attending four-year institutions in New Jersey.
• Our students earned 24% of the baccalaureate degrees and 38% of all advanced degrees conferred in FY2012.
• Our colleges and universities provide over $587 million in institutional grant aid to undergraduates.

 
Serving Diversity

• One in six college students in New Jersey attends an independent college or university.
• The overall average minority enrollment at our member institutions is 31% with the average undergraduate minority enrollment slightly greater at 32%.

 
Meeting the Workforce Demand

• While enrolling 15% of all higher-education students, New Jersey’s independent colleges awarded 21% of all degrees in FY2012.
• Our students earned 28% of all education degrees and 32% of all advanced education degrees in FY2012.
• New Jersey’s independent colleges excel in the degrees awarded in Science and Technology fields:

–      29% of all math degrees

–      36% of all nursing degrees

–      46% of all engineering degrees

–      67% of all physical science advanced degrees

–      46% of all chemistry degrees

–      45% of all computer science advanced degrees

New Jersey’s Investment in Independent Higher Education

• Direct State support in fiscal year 2012 to our 14 member institutions equaled zero dollars.
• Our member institutions saved the State of New Jersey over $202 million in FY2012 – the price it would cost the State to educate the New Jersey residents our institutions enrolled at the undergraduate level.

Contributions to New Jersey

• The fourteen institutions collectively have more than 423,700 living alumni. About 54% of all graduates of these institutions still live in New Jersey.
• New Jersey’s independent colleges and universities employ more than 18,400 people, who contribute back to the State through taxes. 
• Our 14 member institutions will spend over $664 million in 2013 & 2014 on new construction and renovation of campus facilities. These projects will generate new jobs in construction and related industries.
• There are currently 36 New Jersey state legislators who are alumni/ae of our institutions.