Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ · NortheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forTest-optional heavy

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Montclair State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (88%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 28% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

88%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

26,257

Admitted

23,076

Yield

18%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

910–1210

8001600

Applications +111% since fall 2014 · admit rate 67% → 88%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 18,376 undergrads, where 47% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

18.4K

undergrads · larger than 94% of colleges

Diversity index

0.71

Pell Grant

47%

above the median

First generation

41%

above the median

Large suburbNCAA D-III · New Jersey Athletic ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

Steady · index 0.71 → 0.71 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business Administration and Management, General (16% of graduates). 18 students for every faculty member, more than at 83% of colleges. 34% of faculty are full-time. Spends $9,193 a year on instruction per student.

18 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 83% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $25,329 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $1K more than the national median. The 84% who received grants paid $17,669 on average; the other 16% paid the full sticker price of $35,028 in-state / $44,388 out-of-state.

29%

$25.3K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $1K above the national median

Full price, in-state: $35,028 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 29% of full price

Federal loans

41%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −21% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $61,415 ten years after enrolling, more than at 71% of colleges; 70% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

70%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$61.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$22K

≈ $233/month for 10 years

Retention

78%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 64% → 65% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 4% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 21%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 111% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 67% to 88%.

Cost
Falling
−21% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+111%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 67% → 88%
Diversity
Steady
index 0.71 → 0.71

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Lamar University

86% admit · SAT 1035 · 8.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Portland State University

91% admit · 13.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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College of Staten Island CUNY

92% admit · SAT 1070 · 9.7K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Northeast

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Sam Houston State University

90% admit · SAT 1025 · 17.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
Montclair State University (2026)
Montclair State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 185590 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything