These are NJ students’ favorite colleges | College Connection
New Jersey is known for its “brain drain” − about 30,000 high school graduates head out of state for college each year, leaving behind about 25,000 to attend in-state colleges and universities, according to federal data.
Where do migrating students go? The Chronicle of Higher Education found that most students are attracted to schools in nearby states. The University of Delaware is always high on the list. In neighboring Pennsylvania, students are attracted to a host of universities including Penn State, Drexel, Villanova, Temple, St. Joseph’s and Lehigh.
New York is also a popular college destination, with New Jersey students particularly attracted to New York University and Syracuse University.
New Jersey doesn't lack colleges. It has 19 public community colleges where many high school graduates choose to begin their higher education and strive to earn an associate degree without accumulating substantial student debt.
New Jersey is also home to 11 public four-year colleges and universities, with Rutgers University enrolling about 65,000 students spread over campuses in New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark and Camden. Also, New Jersey boasts 14 private colleges and universities, including Princeton University, which is often ranked as the premiere college in the country.
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Why does this brain drain exist? New Jersey is a small state, making it easy for students to cross the border to attend college while remaining close to home. Also, New Jersey is an expensive state. The high cost of attending college in New Jersey − even the public universities − makes out-of-state schools extremely attractive when they offer substantial grant, or scholarship funds.
Colleges in neighboring states actively recruit New Jersey students because they view the Garden State as having many stellar schools and strong applicants.
Colleges and universities that round out the list of top schools with the most New Jersey students include the University of Maryland, Towson (Maryland), University of Rhode Island, University of Scranton (Pennsylvania), James Madison (Virginia), Boston University (Massachusetts), University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), University of Michigan, Cornell University (New York), George Washington University (Washington, D.C.), Pace University (New York), Johnson & Wales University (Rhode Island), Quinnipiac University (Connecticut), West Chester University (Pennsylvania), Northeastern University (Massachusetts) and Loyola University (Maryland).
Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review which, for the past 25 years, has offered PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ students’ favorite colleges
