The 4 Richest Schools In New Jersey Will Blow You Away

Welcome to a tour of the educational treasures in New Jersey, a state known for its beautiful coastlines, rich history, and the nightlife of Atlantic City. In this post, we'll explore the richest schools that thrive in this state.

Every parent wants what's best for their child and finding the right school can be a major decision-making process. It's important to note that the institutions in this post aren't just the highest in tuition. They also offer students phenomenal learning experiences with modern facilities and experienced faculty, which is why the tuition tends to be higher. Keep in mind that other great schools in New Jersey offer lower tuition or are tuition-free as well.

Now let's take an in-depth look at the educational institutions that have a lasting impact on their students and local communities. Here are New Jersey's richest schools, where academic excellence meets beautiful scenery.

Princeton University

Princeton, NJ 08544

One of the most well-known and renowned universities in the country is Princeton University. The school has had a remarkable amount of students and faculty go on to receive Nobel Prizes, Pulitzer Prizes, and the National Medal of Science in addition to 17 U.S. Rhoads Scholars in the past 10 years. Even with Princeton's remarkable recognition across the country and the globe, its undergraduate enrollment is just over 5,500 students and its graduate enrollment is hovering above 3,000. This allows for a small student-to-teacher ratio of 5:1.

Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the nation having been founded in 1746. It was originally called the College of New Jersey and was located in Elizabethtown but moved to Princeton in 1756. After the school survived the Revolutionary War with George Washington himself helping to turn the British away from the college's famous Nassau Hall, the school officially changed its name to Princeton University in 1896. Princeton has continued to grow while still leaning into its rich history and deep values.

Tuition Information

With Princeton's pursuit of excellence and history, it's easily the most expensive school in the state. Annual tuition for undergraduate students is $57,410 plus other fees, books, and room and board. However, what sets this school apart is its extreme willingness to make attendance affordable for students. Princeton is actually known for being one of the most generous programs in the country, offering grants instead of loans and paying 100% of admission for students if necessary. In fact, the school reports that 83% of its seniors graduated debt free and 61% of students qualify for financial aid. This is partially made possible by Princeton's endowment fund which had a balance of $35.8 billion at the end of 2022.

Seton Hall University

400 South Orange Ave, South Orange, NJ 07079

The number one Catholic college in New Jersey is Seton Hall University. The school's name comes from the first American-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, and its one of the oldest diocesan universities in the country. The school enrolls more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year with more than 90 majors to choose from. Additionally, the school's 56-acre main campus is just 14 miles from New York City. It also has several other campuses including its nationally ranked School of Law in Newark and its new Interprofessional Health Sciences campuses in Clifton and Nutley.

Like Princeton, Seton Hall also has a rich history within the state. It was originally founded in 1856 as Seton Hall College by Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley. The school was changed from a college to a university in 1950. When the school first opened, students attended from over 17 states and 6 foreign countries. Over the years, Seton Hall has continued to include people of all faiths and ethnicities.

Tuition Information

While Seton Hall is less expensive than Princeton, it's still quite pricey to attend. Undergraduate tuition for the upcoming school year is $46,380. As with most colleges, other fees, books, and boarding are in addition to this amount. Graduate students can expect tuition to be paid per credit hour and the numbers are dependent on their degree. Rates range from $1,378-$1,517 per credit hour. However, the school does state that 98% of its students receive some form of financial aid as $130 million is awarded annually. The endowment fund at Seton Hall is also incredibly high at $308.4 million. This is likely what gives this school the ability to offer high amounts of financial aid.

St. Mary High School

64 Chestnut Street, Rutherford, NJ 07070

St. Mary High School is a small, Catholic, college prep school enrolling students in grades 9-12 located in Rutherford. At SMHS students are highly engaged and heavily focused on academics. More than 20 honors and AP classes are taught while 80% of the student population is also involved in extracurricular activities. Additionally, the graduation rate is 100% with 92% of seniors going on to attend a 4-year college. The school also boasts small class sizes for individualized attention with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1.

With its groundbreaking ceremony in 1909, the St. Mary parish community has over 100 years of service and rich tradition. A new parish of St. Mary of Rutherford had recently been formed and the church was built to meet the needs of this parish. The school has continued to grow along with the church and the high school is only one part of the school system at the parish.

Tuition Information

Tuition for the upcoming school year is rather straightforward at $12,450 for the first child and $12,150 for each additional child in the family. The school does offer tuition assistance, however, through FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment. SMHS also encourages families to look into scholarships with the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children, the Tri-County Scholarship Fund, the Columbus Citizens Foundation, and the Picozzi Family Foundation. The school also states that it has a goal to raise $350,000. This would offset the costs of tuition for families and the expenses that are required to keep the school functioning.

Montessori Seeds of Education

631 Chester Ave. Moorestown, NJ 08057

At Montessori Seeds of Education, children ages 18 months to 15 years old can enroll. MSOE offers unique learning opportunities for children by following Dr. Maria Montessori’s educational method. This method focuses on nurturing the whole child and gives highly individualized aid to students. Additionally, the school allows students to move at their own pace, and classrooms are organized by age group rather than by grade level. The school is also relatively new, having been founded by Matthew Simberg, M.Ed. in 2014.

Tuition Information

Annual tuition at Montessori Seeds of Education is broken down by age group and how long a student attends (full day, half day, all day). The toddler program ranges from $10,950 to $16,600. The primary program ranges from $10,300 to $12,550 and the elementary program ranges from $12,800 to $15,850. The adolescent program ranges from $13,550 to $16,600. The school doesn't mention anything about tuition assistance, so there may not be much aid given for these tuition costs.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, these schools demonstrate their dedication to providing an exceptional education. While they may come with higher tuition, remember that New Jersey offers a diverse range of educational options to suit different needs.

Let's celebrate the commitment to quality education and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. New Jersey's schools are key to creating a brighter future, enriched by exceptional education found within its beautiful landscapes and rich history.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Mihai_Andritoiu/Shutterstock.com.