The Best Bachelor's in Finance Programs in New Jersey for 2027
Key Points: Best Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick ranks #1 in New Jersey on a 94.7 Program Score, with an 84% graduation rate.
- 6 of the 11 schools here are public and 5 private.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Rowan University, ranks #6.
- Programs analyzed
- 14
- In-state tuition range
- $11,812-$50,380
- Average graduation rate
- 66%
- Median salary (BLS)
- $88,870
The best finance programs in New Jersey span a $38,568 tuition gap, from Rowan University's $11,812 in-state rate to Seton Hall University's $50,380, and this ranking ranks 11 of the 14 finance programs analyzed in New Jersey on the same data: graduation rate, admit rate, cost, and outcomes. The average graduation rate across the ranked field is 66%, a number that hides a wide split between flagship public campuses and the smaller private colleges competing for the same finance degree applicants.
New Jersey students do not have to choose between accreditation and affordability. Rowan University holds the state's lowest ranked in-state price at $11,812 and still posts a Program Score of 80.3, proof a bachelor of finance does not require Seton Hall's $50,380 price tag. At the other end, Rutgers University-New Brunswick tops the state at a 94.7 Program Score with an 84% graduation rate, the highest of any New Jersey finance program in this analysis, at a fraction of Seton Hall's sticker price.
Every school below is scored on IPEDS and BLS data, not marketing copy, so readers can weigh a public in-state deal against a private university's smaller classes before enrolling in one of New Jersey's finance degree programs.
The Top Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey at a Glance
Rutgers-New Brunswick leads at 94.7, and Fairleigh Dickinson-Metropolitan closes the chart at 69.0. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 11 Best Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey, Ranked for 2027
The 11 best Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey, ranked by outcomes.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · Public
- Grad rate
- 84%
- Admit rate
- 58%
- In-state
- $14,222
- Out-of-state
- $33,734
Rutgers New Brunswick tops New Jersey with a 94.7 Program Score, an 84% graduation rate, and 21 required finance credits plus an 18-course elective catalog running from Fixed Income to Digital Assets and Blockchain.
- 94.7 Program Score, #1 in NJ
- 84% graduation rate
- 58% admit rate
- $14,222 in-state vs $33,734 out-of-state
Rutgers Business School's finance major in New Brunswick requires students to declare as Finance and/or Accounting majors, then complete 21 credits of required finance coursework: Investment Analysis, Derivatives, and Corporate Finance, plus four finance electives chosen from an 18-course list spanning Real Estate Finance and Mortgage-Backed Securities, Fixed Income, Pension Fund Investment and Management, and a Special Topics course on Digital Assets, Blockchain and the Future of Finance. The page also lists a finance concentration in Fixed Income and Credit Analysis and ties graduates to employers including Bank of New York, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Merrill Lynch, built around the program's proximity to Wall Street.
An 84% graduation rate paired with a 58% admit rate gives this program the strongest outcomes-to-access combination in the state, and it drives the top Program Score in New Jersey at 94.7. In-state tuition is $14,222 a year versus $33,734 out-of-state, a $19,512 gap that makes residency the deciding cost factor here. At 52,269 total enrollment, this is the largest school on the list, a fit for students who want the deepest elective catalog and the most direct pipeline into New York City finance jobs. Nationally, the BLS puts financial analyst pay at a median $88,870 a year, a baseline that holds across every school here, not a Rutgers-specific figure.
Rutgers University-Newark
Newark, NJ · Public
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- 71%
- In-state
- $14,222
- Out-of-state
- $33,734
Rutgers Newark splits its finance major into two named tracks, Financial Management and Capital Markets, or Real Estate, and admits 71% of applicants against an 85.2 Program Score.
- 85.2 Program Score
- 71% admit rate, most open on this list
- 64% graduation rate
- Two named tracks: Financial Management/Capital Markets and Real Estate
Rutgers Business School's Newark campus runs two finance tracks: Financial Management and Capital Markets, and Real Estate (a third track, Financial Planning, is currently suspended). The Financial Management and Capital Markets track requires Financial Econometrics, Investments, Corporate Finance, and Financial Institutions and Markets, then 12 credits of electives chosen from Futures and Options, Treasury Management, Analysis of Fixed Income, and Real Estate Capital Markets among others. The core Finance course is delivered through the RBS 24/7 format, streamed live and recorded for anytime viewing, backed by a virtual helpdesk. The page names direct employers for graduates: Credit Suisse, Ally Bank, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Bank of New York Mellon.
A 64% graduation rate and a 71% admit rate, the most open admissions on this list, combine into an 85.2 Program Score, second-highest in New Jersey. Tuition matches its sister campus: $14,222 in-state against $33,734 out-of-state, a $19,512 swing. At 11,315 enrollment, Newark is roughly a fifth the size of New Brunswick, a fit for students who want a named track, particularly Real Estate, which none of the other three programs on this list offer as a standalone option, inside a smaller cohort. These completion and admissions figures come from the same IPEDS reporting standard used to benchmark every program here.
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 69%
- Admit rate
- 73%
- In-state
- $50,380
- Out-of-state
- $50,380
Seton Hall University has held CFA Institute University Recognition since 2014, building at least 70% of the CFA Candidate Body of Knowledge into its finance concentration, at a flat $50,380 tuition regardless of residency.
- 84.7 Program Score
- CFA Institute University Recognition since 2014
- 73% admit rate, most open on this list
- $50,380 flat tuition, no in/out-of-state split
Seton Hall University's Stillman School structures its finance concentration around two required courses, Financial Strategy and Investment Analysis, plus three electives covering bond valuation, derivatives, international finance, and real estate. Students work in the school's Trading Room, which mirrors live investment-banking activity with real-time market data, and can compete in the Investment Research Challenge or manage a student-run fund. The page states Seton Hall has belonged to the CFA Institute's University Recognition Program since 2014, one of the earliest schools admitted, with its Finance, Mathematical Finance, and Finance and Technology programs incorporating at least 70% of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge. The program also reports a 95% career-related employment rate among graduates and 76% of students completing at least one internship.
Seton Hall posts a 69% graduation rate and a 73% admit rate, the most accessible admissions on this list, which combine into an 84.7 Program Score, third in New Jersey. As a private university, tuition does not split by residency: it is a flat $50,380 a year, which is $36,158 above Rutgers' in-state rate of $14,222 and $16,646 above Rutgers' out-of-state rate of $33,734. That makes Seton Hall a fit for students weighing a flat, predictable cost against Rutgers' resident discount, especially those targeting the CFA Institute credential pathway the program is explicitly built around.
Rutgers University-Camden
Camden, NJ · Public
- Grad rate
- 67%
- Admit rate
- 66%
- In-state
- $14,222
- Out-of-state
- $33,734
Rutgers Camden runs Bloomberg-integrated M&A coursework and TraderEx trading simulation inside the smallest program on this list, 5,675 total enrollment, with a 67% graduation rate.
- 84.5 Program Score
- 67% graduation rate
- 66% admit rate
- Smallest program on this list: 5,675 enrollment
Rutgers Camden's Bachelor of Science in Finance builds around Principles of Finance, then branches into a 20-course catalog: Business Valuation, Corporate Finance, Investments and Portfolio Management, Financial Markets and Institutions, and Multinational Finance among the core offerings. The upper-level electives get specific about tools, not just topics. M&A Finance integrates real Bloomberg data into merger and acquisition valuation lessons; Financial Modeling and Statistical Financial Modeling teach spreadsheet and SAS/SPSS techniques for corporate finance and portfolio problems; and Equity Trading runs students through TraderEx simulation software across order-driven, dealer-driven, and dark-pool market environments. Students can also complete a Finance Internship, an Honors Thesis, or Independent Study.
A 67% graduation rate and a 66% admit rate produce an 84.5 Program Score, fourth among New Jersey finance programs and within half a point of Seton Hall's third-place score. Tuition mirrors Rutgers' other campuses: $14,222 in-state versus $33,734 out-of-state, a $19,512 gap. At 5,675 total enrollment, Camden is by far the smallest program on this list, about half the size of Newark's 11,315 and roughly a ninth the size of New Brunswick's 52,269, a fit for students who want tool-specific, hands-on coursework in Bloomberg, TraderEx, and SAS inside a small cohort rather than a large flagship's breadth.
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJ · Public
- Grad rate
- 70%
- Admit rate
- 71%
- In-state
- $16,777
- Out-of-state
- $27,708
Among these four New Jersey finance programs, Ramapo posts the top Program Score at 84.1, backed by a 70% graduation rate and Bloomberg-terminal trading-lab access for $16,777 a year in state.
- 84.1 Program Score, tops this group of four
- 70% graduation rate
- Bloomberg terminals + FactSet lab access
- $16,777 in-state tuition
Ramapo's Finance major sits inside the Anisfield School of Business and centers on the Global Financial Markets Trading Laboratory, where students work live Bloomberg terminals and an S&P FactSet database and can earn a Bloomberg terminal certification. Coursework runs through Corporate Financial Modeling, Securities and Investments, Equity Markets Trading, and Multinational Finance, and the program's own page cites 2024 BLS salary ranges for target roles, from Financial Examiners ($72,450 to $166,900) up to Financial Managers ($127,660 and up). A 4+1 Flex MBA option waives 12 foundational credits so undergraduates can add a master's degree in one extra year, and a standalone Finance minor is open to non-majors who clear Principles of Financial Accounting, Management Statistics, and Corporate Finance I.
Ramapo carries a Program Score of 84.1, the highest of these four New Jersey programs, built on a 70% graduation rate and a 71% admit rate that put it a step more selective than Rowan, Rider, or Stockton. In-state tuition is $16,777 a year against $27,708 out of state, a $10,931 gap that makes New Jersey residency worth claiming. At 5,981 total enrollment it fits a student who wants trading-desk hardware and a direct five-year path to an MBA without leaving the state.
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ · Public
- Grad rate
- 67%
- Admit rate
- 78%
- In-state
- $11,812
- Out-of-state
- $22,170
Rowan University graduated 118 finance majors in 2024-2025 from a pool of roughly 690 declared majors, and its Program Score of 80.3 comes with the lowest in-state tuition here at $11,812.
- 80.3 Program Score
- $11,812 in-state tuition, lowest of the four
- 690 majors, 118 grads in 2024-25
- New FinTech concentration
Rowan University's B.S. in Finance runs through the William G. Rohrer College of Business, which reports 690 declared majors in fall 2025 and 118 graduates in 2024-2025. Students can add a new FinTech concentration that pairs financial theory with hands-on exposure to emerging trading platforms, and the core program targets security analysis, wealth and investment management, and personal financial advising as career tracks. A three-credit Supervised Internship Program connects majors to recruiters who visit campus regularly, including JPMorgan Chase, Lincoln Financial Group, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Northwestern Mutual, Prudential, State Street, TD Bank, and Vanguard.
Rowan's Program Score is 80.3, the second highest in this group, on a 67% graduation rate and a 78% admit rate, less selective than Ramapo but running through a much larger university (21,026 total enrollment, the biggest of these four). In-state tuition is $11,812, the lowest in this set, versus $22,170 out of state. That combination of low in-state cost, a large recruiting pipeline, and the new FinTech track fits a budget-conscious New Jersey resident who wants scale over small class sizes.
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- 79%
- In-state
- $39,700
- Out-of-state
- $39,700
Rider University is one of only two New Jersey schools with dual AACSB accreditation in business and accounting, a mark held by fewer than 2% of business schools worldwide, on a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
- Dual AACSB accreditation, business + accounting
- 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- 4 concentrations with SIE, CFA, CMA exam prep
- 77.8 Program Score
Rider University's B.S.B.A. in Finance is a 120-credit program in the Norm Brodsky College of Business built around four concentrations: Private Wealth Management, which preps students for the Securities Industry Essentials exam senior year; Investment Analysis, built around the CFA Level 1 exam; Financial Management, leading to the two Certified Management Accountant exams; and Financial Services Marketing, which layers in 12 credit hours of marketing coursework. The program carries dual AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting, a distinction Rider's page notes only one other New Jersey school holds and fewer than 2% of business schools worldwide achieve, with classes run at a 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Rider's page also cites BLS projections of 17% job growth for financial managers and a $156,100 median salary for that specific role.
Rider's Program Score is 77.8, third among these four, on a 61% graduation rate, the lowest in this set, and a 79% admit rate. Tuition is flat at $39,700 whether a student is from New Jersey or out of state, more than double Ramapo's in-state rate, the tradeoff for a private nonprofit with 4,003 total enrollment, the smallest campus of the four. It fits a student who wants an exam-linked concentration (SIE, CFA, or CMA) and small classes more than the lowest sticker price.
Stockton University
Galloway, NJ · Public
- Grad rate
- 69%
- Admit rate
- 89%
- In-state
- $13,606
- Out-of-state
- $21,864
Stockton University folds all seven CFP-exam-required courses into its Financial Planning concentration, and at an 89% admit rate it's the most open of these four New Jersey programs.
- 89% admit rate, most open of the four
- CFP exam prep built into the degree
- $13,606 in-state tuition
- 5-year BS/MBA dual-degree option
Stockton University's School of Business offers a B.S. in Finance built on 80 credits of finance and business coursework, capped by a Strategic Financial Management capstone course. Students can choose a concentration in Financial Planning that folds in all seven courses required to sit for the Certified Financial Planner exam, and Stockton partners with Brett Danko LLC, run by a practicing Registered Investment Advisor, for dedicated CFP exam-prep instruction. High-performing students can also pursue an accelerated dual-degree track that adds an MBA with a concentration in Finance or another business field in as little as five years total.
Stockton's Program Score is 74.6, the lowest of these four programs, on a 69% graduation rate and an 89% admit rate, the most open of the group. In-state tuition is $13,606 against $21,864 out of state, an $8,258 gap that lands between Rowan's low end and Ramapo's or Rider's higher tuition. At 8,631 total enrollment, it fits a student who wants a direct, licensure-linked path into personal financial planning rather than the trading-desk focus at Ramapo or the boutique concentration structure at Rider.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham
Madison, NJ · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 67%
- Admit rate
- 95%
- In-state
- $36,288
- Out-of-state
- $36,288
The BS in finance is affiliated with the CFA organization and has a second path approved by the CFP Standards Board.
- 67% graduation rate
- Program Score 72
- $36,288 tuition
- CFA and CFP exam paths
Fairleigh Dickinson University's Bachelor of Science in Finance is offered through the Silberman College of Business at the Florham Campus, which the page names alongside the Metropolitan Campus. The school reports AACSB accreditation for its business programs. After the University and Business Core, students take a 12-credit finance major covering financial markets and institutions, securities and investments, and analytical methods in finance, plus three electives such as capital budgeting, portfolio management and derivatives. A Financial Planning and Wealth Management concentration is also available. Completing the curriculum makes students eligible for the CFA Level 1 exam, and the CFP path makes them eligible for the CFP licensing exam. The college lists internships, co-ops, a Student Managed Investment Fund and 24 Bloomberg terminals.
FDU graduates 67% of its students and admits 95% of applicants. In-state tuition is $36,288, the same as out-of-state, because it is a private nonprofit school. The program's Program Score is 72, which is the basis of its ranking here. It suits students who want finance coursework tied to professional exams, access to trading and investment tools, and a CFA or financial planning direction, and who are comfortable with private-school pricing.
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan
Teaneck, NJ · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 53%
- Admit rate
- 91%
- In-state
- $35,830
- Out-of-state
- $35,830
The BS in finance is affiliated with the CFA organization and has a second path approved by the CFP Standards Board.
- 53% graduation rate
- Program Score 69
- $35,830 tuition
- CFA and CFP exam paths
Fairleigh Dickinson University's Bachelor of Science in Finance is offered through the Silberman College of Business at both the Florham and Metropolitan campuses. The school reports AACSB accreditation for its business programs. Students complete the University and Business Core, then a 12-credit finance major covering financial markets and institutions, securities and investments, and analytical methods in finance, plus three electives such as capital budgeting, portfolio management and derivatives. A Financial Planning and Wealth Management concentration is also available. The page says completing the curriculum makes students eligible for the CFA Level 1 exam, and the CFP path makes them eligible for the CFP licensing exam. Internships and co-ops are offered, and students may join a Student Managed Investment Fund and use 24 Bloomberg terminals.
FDU's Metropolitan Campus graduates 53% of its students, and it admits 91% of applicants. In-state tuition is $35,830, the same as out-of-state, because it is a private nonprofit school. The program's Program Score is 69, which is the basis of its ranking here. It suits students who want exam-aligned finance coursework, hands-on market tools and a CFA or financial planning direction, and who are comfortable with a broad admission policy and private-school pricing.
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 54%
- Admit rate
- 79%
- In-state
- $35,360
- Out-of-state
- $35,360
The finance BS is ACBSP-accredited, with an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and a 120-credit curriculum.
- 54% graduation rate
- Program Score 68.4
- $35,360 tuition
- 11:1 student-faculty ratio
Georgian Court University's Bachelor of Science in Finance is described by the school as ACBSP-accredited. Students study financial management, financial markets and institutions, investment analysis, global economics and data-driven decision-making. The page highlights hands-on financial simulations and portfolio optimization work, plus a global focus on international markets and trade policy. Graduates earn the degree by completing at least 120 credits, including a 45-credit business core in accounting, business and economics and additional finance courses. The school reports an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and encourages internships, which are arranged through its School of Business. Its location is about an hour from Jersey City, which the page cites as a hub for financial services firms.
Georgian Court graduates 54% of its students and admits 79% of applicants. In-state tuition is $35,360, the same as out-of-state, because it is a private nonprofit school. The program's Program Score is 68.4, which is the basis of its ranking here. The program fits students who want small classes and a quantitative finance curriculum with simulation work, and who can plan for private-school pricing.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey
The median school on this list graduates 67% of its students. The highest rates belong to Rutgers University-New Brunswick (84%) and Ramapo College of New Jersey (70%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 Rutgers University-New Brunswick84% graduation rate
- #5 Ramapo College of New Jersey70% graduation rate
- #3 Seton Hall University69% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey?
Every school here that reports an admit rate takes at least half of its applicants; the median is 78%.
- #1 Rutgers University-New Brunswick58% admitted
- #4 Rutgers University-Camden66% admitted
- #2 Rutgers University-Newark71% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey
This list holds 6 public and 5 private nonprofit schools. Their median Program Scores: 84.3 public and 72.0 private nonprofit.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Campus Size Across the Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey
Enrollment on this list runs from 2,013 at Georgian Court University to 52,269 at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. Of the 11, 2 enroll 20,000 students or more and 3 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Finance Bachelor's Programs in New Jersey Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickRutgers-New Brunswick | $100,695 | $24,897 |
| #2 | Rutgers University-NewarkRutgers-Newark | $100,695 | $16,013 |
| #3 | Seton Hall UniversitySeton Hall | $89,994 | $31,552 |
| #4 | Rutgers University-CamdenRutgers-Camden | $100,695 | $15,732 |
| #6 | Rowan UniversityRowan | $75,697 | $23,938 |
| #7 | Rider UniversityRider | $88,405 | $24,780 |
| #9 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusFairleigh Dickinson-Florham | $84,606 | $24,803 |
| #10 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusFairleigh Dickinson-Metropolitan | $84,606 | $17,923 |
Graduates of Rutgers-New Brunswick earn the most four years after finishing, a median of $100,695; the lowest figure here is $75,697 at Rowan.
Rutgers-New Brunswick leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
Net price, what the average aided undergraduate pays after grants, ranges from $15,732 a year at Rutgers-Camden to $31,552 at Seton Hall.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What a Finance Bachelor's Degree Costs in New Jersey
In-state tuition across New Jersey's ranked finance programs runs from $11,812 at Rowan University to $50,380 at Seton Hall University, and that $38,568 gap is the single biggest variable a prospective student controls before enrollment. Rowan University anchors the low end at $11,812, while Stockton University charges $13,606 and the three Rutgers campuses each bill $14,222 in-state.
Private nonprofit finance programs cost far more for a comparable four-year degree. Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus charges $35,830, its Florham Campus $36,288, Rider University $39,700, and Georgian Court University $35,360. Seton Hall, the priciest option in this ranking, still earns the state's third-highest Program Score at 84.7, so the premium buys a program with real outcomes data behind it rather than just a bigger price tag.
Return on investment favors the public tier. A Rutgers-New Brunswick finance degree costs $14,222 a year in-state against a national financial analyst median salary of $88,870, so the sticker price clears in well under a year of post-graduation pay. Rowan University's $11,812 rate is lower still, and clears in well under a year of that median pay. Compare any of these figures against the U.S. Dept. of Education's IPEDS data before committing to a private sticker price.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
The CFA Charter and Licensing Paths in New Jersey
A finance degree from any of New Jersey's ranked programs is the standard first step toward the CFA charter, the credential most respected in asset management and equity research. The CFA Institute does not require a specific undergraduate major, but finance programs that cover corporate finance, valuation, and portfolio theory in depth, like the curricula at Rutgers and Seton Hall, align most closely with the CFA Level I exam topics. Candidates still need four years of qualified work experience and must pass three exam levels through the CFA Institute directly.
Students headed into brokerage, wealth management, or securities sales roles in New Jersey typically need FINRA's Series 7 and Series 63 licenses instead of, or in addition to, the CFA charter. Both require sponsorship by a FINRA-member firm, so the exams come after hiring, not before graduation. A finance degree does not substitute for either license, but it does prepare students for the material covering securities regulation, markets, and investment products.
New Jersey's proximity to New York City's financial sector makes licensing especially relevant here: graduates of New Jersey finance programs frequently sit for the Series 7 and 63 within their first year at brokerage and asset management firms headquartered across the Hudson River. A bachelor of finance from an accredited program signals to those employers that a candidate has already covered the accounting, statistics, and markets coursework the licensing exams assume.
Why AACSB and ACBSP Accreditation Matters
Accreditation is the baseline filter behind this ranking. Business schools carrying AACSB accreditation, the standard held by Rutgers, Seton Hall, Rider, and Rowan's business programs, undergo periodic review of faculty qualifications, curriculum rigor, and student outcomes. ACBSP accreditation, common among smaller regional and online-focused schools, applies a lighter-weight but still external review process.
An accredited finance degree matters most at two points: transfer credit and graduate admissions. Credits from an AACSB-accredited bachelor of finance transfer cleanly into MBA and master's in finance degrees, and CFA Institute University Affiliation, held by select accredited business schools, signals that a program's curriculum covers most of the CFA Level I and II topics.
Every school in this ranking of the best finance programs in New Jersey holds regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education at minimum, with the AACSB-accredited schools carrying the additional business-specific review. Confirm a specific program's accreditation status directly with the school before enrolling, since accreditation can lapse or change between review cycles.
What Sets New Jersey's Top Finance Programs Apart
Rutgers University-New Brunswick tops this ranking of New Jersey finance programs with a 94.7 Program Score, driven by an 84% graduation rate, the highest among all 11 ranked schools. Its in-state tuition of $14,222 makes it also one of the least expensive top-five options, a combination few states can match at the flagship level.
Rutgers University-Newark ranks second at 85.2 with a 64% graduation rate, serving a different, more urban commuter population than the New Brunswick campus while charging identical in-state tuition. Seton Hall University, the top private school in the state, ranks third at 84.7 with a 69% graduation rate, its Stillman School of Business built around smaller class sizes than the public flagships.
Rutgers University-Camden (84.5, 67% graduation rate) and Ramapo College of New Jersey (84.1, 70% graduation rate) round out the top five, both public and both charging under $17,000 in-state. Ramapo's 70% graduation rate is the second-highest of any school in this ranking behind Rutgers-New Brunswick, notable for a school outside the traditional flagship tier.
Further down the list, Rowan University (80.3 score, $11,812 tuition) and Stockton University (74.6 score, $13,606 tuition) offer the cheapest paths into a public, accredited finance degree in the state. Programs below a 70 Program Score, like Fairleigh Dickinson's Metropolitan Campus (69, 53% graduation rate) and Georgian Court University (68.4, 54% graduation rate), combine private-school tuition with the lowest completion rates in the state.
Online and Accelerated Finance Degrees in New Jersey
None of the ranked New Jersey finance programs is confirmed as a fully online bachelor of finance, so this path mostly means on-campus study with some flexibility built in. Rutgers and Rowan both offer hybrid and evening course options within their finance degree tracks for working students, though their core bachelor's programs remain primarily on-campus. Stockton University's business school similarly blends in-person and online coursework for non-traditional students without a separate online tuition rate.
An online or accelerated path trades campus recruiting access, since many finance employers hold on-campus interview days at Rutgers and Seton Hall, for lower cost and schedule flexibility. Students weighing an online bachelor of finance should confirm the specific program still carries the same accreditation as the on-campus track before enrolling, since accreditation status does not always cover every delivery format.
Finance Careers and Salary Outlook After Graduation
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median pay for financial analysts, one of the most common roles for finance degree graduates, at $88,870 a year in its Occupational Outlook data. That figure is a national benchmark, not a New Jersey-specific or school-specific number, but it is the same target every graduate of these New Jersey finance programs is working toward regardless of which campus they attend.
New Jersey's finance graduates benefit from proximity to two major financial hubs, New York City and Philadelphia, both accessible from every school in this ranking. Roles in corporate finance, commercial banking, insurance underwriting, and asset management recruit heavily from Rutgers's three campuses and Seton Hall given their in-state footprint and alumni networks in the region.
Detailed wage data by metro area and experience level is available through the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, which breaks out pay for financial analysts, personal financial advisors, and related finance degree occupations by state. Graduation rate and program cost, both scored in this ranking, are the two factors within a student's control before that career outcome ever comes into play.