2026 Best Value Humanities Schools in New Jersey
[Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/liberal-arts-and-general-studies/humanities/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for humanities students.
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2026 Best Value Humanities Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in humanities, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Humanities Schools
Leading the list is Saint Peters College, our #1 best value for humanities in New Jersey. Located in the city of Jersey City, Saint Peters College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,552. Humanities graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Saint Peters College generally make around $50,944. Set against $29,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at Montclair State University, which ranked #2. Montclair State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Montclair. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,912, compared with $26,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,967 to complete the humanities program here. Humanities graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $22,201 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in humanities will find it at Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Teaneck, Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,010. Humanities graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus generally make around $31,469. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Seton Hall University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in humanities, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,170 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for humanities graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, humanities degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $36,993. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
