Montclair State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Montclair, New Jersey. It enrolls 18,376 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
76/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes62
Value83
Affordability76
Selectivity23
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87.9%, Montclair State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87.9%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
910 – 1210
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Montclair State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
11.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Montclair State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,566 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,566
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
41%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,912
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$26,022
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,730
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,674
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,560
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,736
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,305
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
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
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$8,75025%percentile
$22,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,500
↓ $3,500
No Pell $15,000
↓ $7,000
Dependent students $16,939
↓ $5,061
Independent students $19,000
↓ $3,000
Female students $17,750
↓ $4,250
Male students $16,750
↓ $5,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,573, less than completers ($22,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
68% of full-time students who enrolled at Montclair State University graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
79%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Montclair State University earn a median of $61,415 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$61,415
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$48,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$54,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,100, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Montclair State University is home to 18,376 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
18,376
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 40.7%7,470
White 31.6%5,814
Black 13.2%2,429
Asian 6.1%1,123
Other 2.7%489
International 1.5%274
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Montclair State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbMontclair, New Jersey
Housing
Partly residential5,093 beds available
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Montclair State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
131 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Montclair State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,092
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$55M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$104,478
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
674 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
210
31%
$131,287
Associate Professors
226
34%
$106,118
Assistant Professors
117
17%
$90,784
No Rank
121
18%
$68,127
Pros & Cons of Montclair State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Montclair State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Best for:
Based on the data, Montclair State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Montclair State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Montclair State University.
Is Montclair State University hard to get into?
Montclair State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Montclair State University?
Montclair State University has an acceptance rate of 87.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Montclair State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Montclair State University scored between 910 and 1210 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Montclair State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Montclair State University is $15,566 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Montclair State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $61,415 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,566 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Montclair State University known for?
Montclair State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Experimental Psychology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Montclair State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Montclair State University are $61,415, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Montclair State University accredited?
Yes. Montclair State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Montclair State University?
Montclair State University enrolls 18,376 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Montclair State University?
Montclair State University graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Montclair State University a public or private college?
Montclair State University is a Public institution.
Where is Montclair State University located?
Montclair State University is located in Montclair, New Jersey.
What programs does Montclair State University offer?
Montclair State University offers 131 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Experimental Psychology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Montclair State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Montclair State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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