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Public 4-Year Minimally Selective Montclair, NJ NCAA Division III with football

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ

87.9%
Acceptance Rate
$37,452/yr
Est. Cost of Attendancesum of published cost components
$15,566/yr
Avg Price After Aid
64.5%
6-yr Grad Rate
18,376
Undergrads

About Montclair State University

Montclair State University is a public institution located in Montclair, New Jersey, within a large suburban setting. The university serves an undergraduate enrollment of 18,376 students with an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Type
Public 4-Year
Undergrads
18,376
Avg Faculty Salary
$113,237
Athletics
NCAA Division III with football
Endowment
$61.6M
Pell Students
47%
First-Gen
41.2%
What Montclair State University Is Known For
Majors far more concentrated here than at colleges nationally
Medical/Health Humanities 49 graduates · 1.3% of degrees here vs 0.01% nationally 101×
Communication and Media Studies 111 graduates · 2.9% of degrees here vs 0.07% nationally 41×
Human Development and Family Studies 164 graduates · 4.3% of degrees here vs 0.32% nationally 14×
Cinematography and Film/Video Production 139 graduates · 3.7% of degrees here vs 0.3% nationally 12×
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 72 graduates · 1.9% of degrees here vs 0.32% nationally
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023, against the national share at the same degree level
Admissions
87.9%
Acceptance rate · Minimally Selective
23,599
Applicants
Can I Get In? →
Cost & Aid
$15,566 avg net
Average net price after aid
$10,880
Under $30K income
$61.6M
Endowment
Can I Afford It? →
Outcomes
$47,944 median
Median earnings 6 years after entering
64.5%
6-yr Grad Rate
$22,000
Median Debt
Is It Worth It? →

Montclair State University Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate
87.9%
23,599 applicants
Student:Faculty Ratio
18:1
Undergrad instruction

Montclair State University has an acceptance rate of 87.9%, a minimally selective process in which most applicants gain entry. The middle 50% of admitted students scored 480-620 on SAT reading and writing and 430-590 on math, with an average high school GPA of 3.33.

How Selective Is That, Really?
Each dot is one of 100 applicants · Source: school's Common Data Set, else College Scorecard
1 in 2 applicants is admitted · 23,599 applied
10-Year Acceptance Rate Trend
10-year trend · Source: College Scorecard
10 years

SAT & ACT Score Ranges

Where Admitted Students Score
Middle 50% of enrolled students, on the full SAT scale · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS)
Fall 2023
910–1210
40080012001600
GPA Distribution — Enrolled Students
8-band breakdown · Source: Common Data Set
4.0
0.0789%
3.75–3.99
0.1503%
3.50–3.74
0.1822%
3.25–3.49
0.1591%
3.00–3.24
0.1721%
2.50–2.99
0.2442%
2.00–2.49
0.0119%
Below 2.0
0.0013%

Admissions Requirements

Admission Factor Weights
Official weights from submitted institutional data · Source: Common Data Set, section C7
Rigor of coursework Very Important
Class rank Very Important
Academic GPA Very Important
Standardized test scores Very Important
Application essay Considered
Recommendations Considered
Extracurricular activities Considered
Talent / special ability Considered
Character / personal qualities Considered
First generation status Considered
Alumni relation Considered
Geographic residence Considered
Volunteer work Considered
Work experience Considered
Class Rank Profile
25% of students submitted rank · Source: Common Data Set
Top 10th of class
0.1%
Top quarter
0.32%
Top half
0.7%
Waitlist Statistics
Source: Common Data Set
2,549
Offered spot
2,227
Accepted offer
1,350
Admitted from WL
Who Applies, and Who Gets In
First-year applicants, admits and enrollees by gender
Applied Admitted Rate Enrolled
Men 9,247 7,786 84.2% 1,666
Women 14,352 12,843 89.5% 2,373
SOURCEIPEDS Admissions — Fall 2023 admissions cycle
How These Admissions Numbers Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Montclair State University admits 87.9% of applicants — a typical similar college admits 83%.

Acceptance rate
This school
87.9%
Similar colleges (532)
83%
NJ (58)
76.3%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (175)
73.3%
National (1,934)
78.1%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Montclair State University Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance

Avg Net Price
$15,566
Average for all students receiving federal aid, 2023-24
Median Federal Debt
$22,000
Federal Loan Rate
40.5%
Students borrowing federal loans

Montclair State University's cost of attendance is $37,452, while the average net price is $15,566, meaning students pay substantially less on average than the sticker price.

Cost of Attendance Breakdown
Estimated annual costs · on-campus, 2023-24 · Source: College Scorecard
$37,452
In-state Tuition & Fees
$15,912
42%
Room & Board
$16,730
45%
Books & Supplies
$1,250
3%
Other Expenses
$3,560
10%

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income

What You'd Actually Pay by Family Income
Average net price after all grants and scholarships · Source: College Scorecard (IPEDS net price)
Under $30,000
$10,880
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,532
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,388
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,058
Over $110,000
$25,573
Full Cost of Attendance
Source: College Scorecard
2023-24

Student Loan Debt

How Many Students Borrow
Undergraduates taking on any loan
Take out a loan
82%
Federal loans
41%

Graduates who borrowed carry a median monthly repayment of about $233.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How This Price Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

After aid, Montclair State University costs $15,566 a year — about 7% more than a typical similar college.

Cost of attendance
This school
$28,305
Similar colleges (565)
$25,083
NJ (78)
$26,318
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (218)
$26,490
National (3,197)
$25,367
Students taking a loan
This school
82.3%
Similar colleges (583)
84.8%
NJ (104)
87.2%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (221)
85.1%
National (4,096)
86.4%
Median debt at graduation
This school
$22,000
Similar colleges (585)
$21,000
NJ (105)
$11,995
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (230)
$12,523
National (4,347)
$13,097
Average net price
This school
$15,566
Similar colleges (565)
$14,600
NJ (133)
$18,332
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (324)
$18,541
National (5,106)
$17,160

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Montclair State University Graduation Rate & Student Outcomes

6-yr Grad Rate
64.5%
Median Earnings 6yr
$47,944
6 years after entering

Montclair State University has a graduation rate of 64.5%. Graduates earn a median of $47,944 six years after entry and $61,415 ten years after entry.

Graduate Earnings After College

Median Graduate Earnings Over Time
6 and 10 years after entering · includes all students, not just graduates · Source: College Scorecard
Median Earnings by Gender · 6 Years After Entering
Students working 6 years after entering · Source: College Scorecard
$50,361
Men
$46,399
Women
Graduation Rate: Pell vs. Non-Pell
6-year graduation rate by grant status · Source: College Scorecard
62.4%
Pell recipients
67.3%
Non-Pell students

Top Majors & Programs

Top Majors by Graduates
Most recent year available · bachelor's degrees only · Source: IPEDS Completions 2023
MajorGraduates
Business Administration and Management,...650
Psychology, General471
Human Development and Family Studies, General164
Biology/Biological Sciences, General145
Exercise Science and Kinesiology143
Cinematography and Film/Video Production139
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other127
Elementary Education and Teaching125
Communication and Media Studies, Other111
Accounting103
Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity
Completing within six years
White
70%
Asian
68.8%
Hispanic
60.8%
Black
57.9%
SOURCECollege Scorecard — groups with too few students to report are omitted
Earnings Further Out
The longer horizon

Median earnings eight years after entering Montclair State University are $56,215, and 69% of former students earn more than $25,000 six years after entry.

SOURCECollege Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education
How These Outcomes Compare
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median

Six years after entry, former Montclair State University students earn $47,944 — 4% more than at a typical similar college.

Median earnings, 10 years
This school
$61,415
Similar colleges (587)
$54,560
NJ (106)
$45,782
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (246)
$47,148
National (4,696)
$40,782
Median earnings, 6 years
This school
$47,944
Similar colleges (589)
$46,058
NJ (109)
$38,311
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (256)
$38,451
National (4,847)
$35,433
Graduation rate
This school
64.5%
Similar colleges (566)
51.7%
NJ (52)
57.2%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (166)
56.1%
National (2,168)
52.3%
Freshman retention
This school
78.8%
Similar colleges (567)
76%
NJ (46)
79.4%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (145)
81.8%
National (1,841)
75.7%

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Montclair State University Campus, Athletics & Faculty

Montclair State University is a public institution located in a large suburb in Montclair, NJ, with an undergraduate enrollment of 18,376 students. The student body includes 58.5% women, 47.0% Pell grant recipients, and 41.2% first-generation students.

Student Demographics
Undergraduate enrollment · Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS
Race & Ethnicity
White
31.6%
Asian
6.1%
Hispanic
40.7%
Black
13.2%
Other Indicators
First-generation
41.2%
Pell grant recipients
47%
Women
58.5%
Montclair State University Athletics
Total Revenue
$2.1M
Total Expense
$2M
Athletes
592
356 men · 236 women
Head Coach Salaries
Men's vs Women's programs · Source: Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act
Men's sports
$55,656
Women's sports
$69,140

Average head coach salary by program gender.

Academic Resources
705
Full-time faculty
$113,237
Avg faculty salary
9,813
FT staff
$61.6M
Endowment
Faculty Salary by Gender
All instructional ranks combined · Source: IPEDS Human Resources
Men (avg)
$116,494
Women (avg)
$110,254
Overall avg
$113,237
Who Is on Campus
Beyond the undergraduate headcount
Undergraduates
18,376
Graduate students
4,663
Varsity Athletes
Play a varsity sport
3.2%

522 of 16,236 undergraduates, counting each athlete once regardless of how many sports they play.

SOURCEIPEDS enrollment; Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filings
Online & Distance Learning
How much of the teaching happens remotely
Undergrads fully online
3.7%
Undergrads taking any
54.6%
Grad students fully online
32.7%

668 of 18,062 undergraduates study entirely at a distance, against 1,474 of 4,508 graduate students.

SOURCEIPEDS Fall Enrollment, distance education status

Montclair State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How This Campus Compares
Against the colleges this school should be measured against
Median
Pell grant share
This school
47%
Similar colleges (590)
34%
NJ (140)
43.8%
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (344)
44.3%
National (5,367)
40.1%
Research spending per student
This school
$6,181
Similar colleges (531)
$8,786
NJ (72)
$5,499
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (220)
$6,266
National (2,823)
$5,605
Students per faculty member
This school
18:1
Similar colleges (595)
16:1
NJ (143)
16:1
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (353)
15:1
National (5,427)
15:1

Each bar is the median of that group, with the number of schools in brackets. “Similar colleges” means the same control and the same predominant degree awarded. Groups of fewer than 15 schools are not shown.

Every Major at Montclair State University
69 fields of study, bachelor's degree level, grouped by subject area
3,777 graduates
Business and Marketing 785 grads · 3 majors
Business Administration and Management,... 650
Accounting 103
Hospitality Administration/Management,... 32
Psychology 471 grads · 1 major
Psychology, General 471
Visual and Performing Arts 424 grads · 8 majors
Cinematography and Film/Video Production 139
Music, General 65
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 61
Art/Art Studies, General 53
Fashion/Apparel Design 46
Dance, General 33
Graphic Design 18
Industrial and Product Design 9
Communication and Journalism 315 grads · 7 majors
Communication and Media Studies, Other 111
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 72
Speech Communication and Rhetoric 50
Sports Communication 39
Journalism 19
Advertising 13
Radio and Television 11
Multidisciplinary Studies 203 grads · 5 majors
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 127
Nutrition Sciences 55
Sustainability Studies 11
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General 7
Computational Science 3
Health Professions 190 grads · 4 majors
Public Health, General 68
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 53
Medical/Health Humanities 49
Music Therapy/Therapist 20
Biological and Biomedical Sciences 189 grads · 4 majors
Biology/Biological Sciences, General 145
Molecular Biology 19
Biochemistry 16
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography 9
Education 180 grads · 2 majors
Elementary Education and Teaching 125
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 55
Family and Consumer Sciences 164 grads · 1 major
Human Development and Family Studies, General 164
Social Sciences 160 grads · 5 majors
Political Science and Government, General 58
Economics, General 50
Sociology, General 41
Anthropology, General 8
Geography 3
Parks, Recreation and Kinesiology 143 grads · 1 major
Exercise Science and Kinesiology 143
Computer and Information Sciences 124 grads · 2 majors
Computer and Information Sciences, General 71
Information Technology 53
English Language and Literature 103 grads · 2 majors
English Language and Literature, General 94
Writing, General 9
Foreign Languages and Linguistics 71 grads · 8 majors
Linguistics 38
Spanish Language and Literature 21
German Language and Literature 3
Italian Language and Literature 3
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and... 2
French Language and Literature 2
Arabic Language and Literature 1
Classics and Classical Languages,... 1
Liberal Arts and General Studies 51 grads · 2 majors
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 38
Humanities/Humanistic Studies 13
Public Administration and Social Services 47 grads · 2 majors
Social Work 46
Public Policy Analysis, General 1
History 40 grads · 1 major
History, General 40
Physical Sciences 36 grads · 3 majors
Chemistry, General 20
Geology/Earth Science, General 13
Physics, General 3
Legal Professions 28 grads · 1 major
Legal Professions and Studies, Other 28
Mathematics and Statistics 25 grads · 2 majors
Mathematics, General 22
Applied Mathematics, General 3
Communications Technologies 11 grads · 2 majors
Recording Arts Technology/Technician 6
Animation, Interactive Technology, Video... 5
Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies 9 grads · 1 major
Women's Studies 9
Philosophy and Religious Studies 8 grads · 2 majors
Philosophy 7
Religion/Religious Studies 1
SOURCEIPEDS Completions 2023 — first majors only, so a student with a double major is counted once

Montclair State University Location & Campus Safety

Montclair State University is in Upper Montclair, NJ, in what IPEDS classifies as a large suburb setting. The campus sits about 1.2 miles from the center of Upper Montclair. There are 119 other colleges within 25 miles, and New York, NY is 19.3 miles away.

Montclair State University
Large suburb
Campus Setting
1.2 mi
To City Center
119
Colleges Within 25 mi
12,279
Upper Montclair Population
Living in Upper Montclair
Cost of living and getting around, for the whole city — not the campus
ACS 2023
$2,290
Median Rent / mo
$250,001
Median Household Income
26%
Rent as % of Income
How People Commute
Drive alone
33.6%
Walk
2.3%
Public transit
22.6%

Passaic County scores 13.4 out of 20 on the EPA National Walkability Index — above average walkable. The index is a county-wide average of block groups, so it describes the surrounding area rather than the campus itself.

Undergraduates make up about 3.3% of Upper Montclair's residents.

SOURCEU.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates; EPA National Walkability Index

Campus Safety at Montclair State University

Every college that receives federal financial aid must publish its crime statistics each year under the Clery Act. These are the figures Montclair State University reported for 2024.

29
On-Campus Offenses
16
In Residence Halls
1.2
Per 1,000 Students
34
Domestic, Dating & Stalking

Read these numbers carefully. A Clery figure counts reports, not incidents. A university with active reporting channels, a large campus police force and a teaching hospital will record more offenses than one where the same events go unreported — so a higher count is not evidence of a more dangerous campus, and a low count is not evidence of a safe one. In 2024, 833 campuses with more than 1,000 students reported no offenses at all. Use these figures to ask a college questions, not to rank one against another.

Reported On-Campus Offenses by Year
Criminal offenses reported on campus, including residence halls · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Clery Act disclosures
2022
22
2023
15
2024
29
What Was Reported in 2024
On-campus criminal offenses by category
Sexual offenses
13
Burglary
10
Aggravated assault
3
Arson
2
Motor vehicle theft
1

Separately, Montclair State University reported 1 arrests and 136 disciplinary referrals for weapons, drug and liquor law violations on campus. Referrals for alcohol violations are usually the largest category at residential colleges and reflect how a school handles student conduct internally.

SOURCEU.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety and Security — Clery Act disclosures, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Montclair State University admissions, costs, and outcomes.