“Public R2 research university in northern New Jersey offering more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations.”
Montclair State University is New Jersey's second-largest public research university and one of the most diverse campuses in the Northeast — home to roughly 22,000 students across 13 colleges and schools, including the newly launched College of Communication and Media (2025) and the recently absorbed Bloomfield College of Montclair State. Set on a 252-acre suburban campus 14 miles west of Manhattan, Montclair offers an unusual combination: a major-metro academic ecosystem, NYC internships, and an affordable in-state public price. For international students, Montclair stands out for its access to New York City employers, its strong Feliciano School of Business (AACSB-accredited), and the Cali School of Music, one of the oldest schools of music in the U.S. The university was the first public institution in New Jersey to adopt a test-optional admissions policy (back in 2015), and it remains genuinely test-blind in spirit — admissions weight high school GPA and curriculum rigor over standardized scores. Montclair was named the #1 public institution in New Jersey by the Wall Street Journal and ranked #9 nationally for social mobility by U.S. News in 2026. The academic experience is built around 300+ majors, minors and concentrations, dual-degree pathways, and 80+ accelerated combined bachelor's-and-master's programs. The campus runs on a SEMESTER calendar, with NJ Transit rail service from the on-campus Little Falls and Montclair State stations to Manhattan in under an hour — making MSU a practical launchpad for international students who want NYC career exposure without NYC tuition.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Top Public Schools
US News 2026
International Student Enrollment (F-1)
DHS SEVIS by the Numbers (2024)
Research Activity
Carnegie Classifications (2021)
Best Online Master's in Education Programs
U.S. News & World Report
Social Mobility
U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges
Research Classification
Carnegie
America's Top Online Colleges
Newsweek
Best Online Master's in Education
U.S. News & World Report
2026 Best Colleges
The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse
Top Performers on Social Mobility
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourcePriority / Scholarship Deadline
Apply by this date for full scholarship consideration
Rolling Admission
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until class is filled
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$15,912
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$26,022
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
AACSB-accredited business school offering undergraduate majors in Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Management, and a top-ranked Online MBA. Strong NYC corporate recruiting pipeline.
One of the oldest schools of music in the United States, plus programs in dance, theatre, animation, filmmaking, and visual arts. Performing arts students benefit from proximity to Broadway and the NYC arts scene.
The largest college by enrollment with 20+ undergraduate majors and 40+ minors spanning Psychology, Linguistics, History, Political Science, and Justice Studies.
Launched July 2025 as Montclair's newest college, offering majors in Journalism, Sports Communication, Public Relations, Television & Digital Media, and Communication Studies.
One of the largest educator-preparation programs in New Jersey, with strong placement into NJ public schools and a long history of teacher training (Montclair was founded as a normal school in 1908).
4 years
One of the oldest music schools in the U.S., with conservatory-style training and access to NYC's classical, jazz and Broadway scenes. Audition required.
4 years
AACSB-accredited; majors in Finance, Marketing, Management, Accounting, MIS. Strong recruiting from PwC, Deloitte, Prudential, JPMorgan, and other NYC-metro firms.
4 years
Highly regarded BFA with state-of-the-art studio facilities and faculty with industry credits at Pixar, Disney, and major animation studios.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $26,022
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
