Head to head
Montclair State University vs Thomas Edison State University
Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ) and Thomas Edison State University (Trenton, NJ) compared on cost, admissions, size, and outcomes, using each college’s own federal reporting. Every comparison below is drawn from figures both colleges report — where only one reports a number, no comparison is made.
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | Montclair State University | Thomas Edison State University |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Montclair, NJ | Trenton, NJ |
| Institution type | University | University |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Campus setting | Suburban | Urban |
| Published in-state tuitionSticker price before aid | $15,912 | $6,838 |
| Published out-of-state tuition | $26,022 | $8,856 |
| Average net priceAverage paid after grants and scholarships | $15,566 | Not reported |
| Acceptance rate | 87% | 100% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 940–1225 | Not reported |
| Total enrollment | 22,185 | 14,043 |
| Graduation rate | 65% | Not reported |
| First-year retention | 78% | Not reported |
What the numbers show
- Thomas Edison State University has the lower published in-state tuition ($6,838 vs $15,912 at Montclair State University).
- Thomas Edison State University has the lower published out-of-state tuition ($8,856 vs $26,022 at Montclair State University).
- Montclair State University has the lower acceptance rate (87% vs 100% at Thomas Edison State University).
- Montclair State University has the larger student body (22,185 students vs 14,043 students at Thomas Edison State University).
How to read this comparison
Every statement above is a direct comparison of two reported figures, and appears only when bothcolleges report that measure. Where one reports and the other does not, the row shows “Not reported” and no conclusion is drawn — a data gap is not a finding.
CampusPin does not rank these colleges or declare a winner. A lower acceptance rate is not a quality score, a higher graduation rate partly reflects who a college admits, and published tuition is not what most students pay. Which college is better depends on your program, your finances, and your circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Montclair State University or Thomas Edison State University?
- Thomas Edison State University has the lower published in-state tuition: $6,838 versus $15,912.
- Is Montclair State University or Thomas Edison State University harder to get into?
- Montclair State University has the lower acceptance rate — 87% versus 100%. A lower acceptance rate means more applicants per seat; it is not by itself a measure of academic quality or of your own chances.
- Which has the better graduation rate, Montclair State University or Thomas Edison State University?
- Graduation rates are not reported for both colleges, so they cannot be compared here.
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Data sources & methodology
Figures for Montclair State University and Thomas Edison State University come from federal datasets and each institution's own reporting.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. Montclair State University vs Thomas Edison State University. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/compare/montclair-state-university-vs-thomas-edison-state-university