TCNJ: the complete school report for parents
TCNJ rates 5 of the 18 admission factors Very Important, among them course rigor, extracurricular activities and class rank. A second tier of GPA, the essay and recommendations carries real weight too. It does not consider legacy and the interview, so family connections carry no weight. TCNJ admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Applying Early Decision changes the odds sharply here: 76.8% of ED applicants were admitted against 61.5% overall.
TCNJ is officially College of New Jersey. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-09-20.
What does TCNJ actually weigh in admissions?
TCNJ rates 5 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, extracurricular activities, class rank, demonstrated interest, volunteer work. It does not consider 3 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is TCNJ's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How TCNJ rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Important |
| extracurricular activities | Very Important |
| recommendations | Important |
| personal qualities | Important |
| talent | Important |
| class rank | Very Important |
| demonstrated interest | Very Important |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Important |
| state residency | Important |
| volunteer work | Very Important |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does TCNJ consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does TCNJ consider GPA?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does TCNJ consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does TCNJ consider the application essay?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does TCNJ consider extracurricular activities?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does TCNJ consider recommendation letters?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does TCNJ consider character and personal qualities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does TCNJ consider a special talent or ability?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does TCNJ consider class rank?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does TCNJ consider demonstrated interest?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. Visits, emails and opened mail are tracked and counted, so engage early.
Does TCNJ consider an interview?
No. TCNJ does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does TCNJ consider legacy status?
No. TCNJ does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does TCNJ consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does TCNJ consider where we live?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does TCNJ consider state residency?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does TCNJ consider volunteer work?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does TCNJ consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does TCNJ consider religious affiliation?
No. TCNJ does not consider it.
What is the TCNJ waitlist really like?
TCNJ offered a place on its waiting list to 543 applicants and 20 accepted one. 12 were ultimately admitted. That is 60.0% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
TCNJ admitted 71.4% of 1,038 transfer applicants, against 61.5% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.5.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
Applying Early Decision changes the odds materially: 76.8% of ED applicants were admitted against 61.5% overall, a gap of 15 points. ED is binding, so that advantage costs the ability to compare financial-aid offers.
| Regular application deadline | February 1 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | April 1 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | Yes |
| Early Decision deadline | November 1 |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 1 |
| Application fee | $65 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
TCNJ requires 18 academic units and recommends 20. A college-preparatory program is required. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | 4 years |
| Mathematics | 4 years | 4 years |
| Science | 4 years | 4 years |
| Foreign language | 2 years | 2 years |
What will TCNJ actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $27,646 a year at TCNJ after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $15,906. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 40.8% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 311 merit awards averaging null to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $7,908 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $14,028 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $22,642 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $30,942 |
| Over $110,000 | $35,222 |
51% of TCNJ graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $29,079 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $246 a month in repayment. TCNJ’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from TCNJ pay off?
Graduates earn a median $73,323 ten years after entering, and $62,649 at six years. 90% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 84% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $31,632 | 1.1 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $56,112 | 1.9 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $90,568 | 3.1 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $123,768 | 4.2 |
| Over $110,000 | $140,888 | 4.8 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$105,889 to $56,001, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at TCNJ:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $105,889 | 44 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $98,541 | 261 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $98,401 | 69 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $98,331 | 61 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $84,253 | 51 |
| Political Science and Government | $79,476 | 47 |
| Mathematics | $77,172 | 60 |
| Biology, General | $72,463 | 118 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $72,091 | 80 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $58,713 | 104 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $56,415 | 44 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $56,001 | 58 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
90% of first-years return for a second year. 74% graduate within four years and 85% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 80.6% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 87.9% of everyone else, a gap of 7.3 points.
How big are the classes?
36% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 0% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 14:1, and 49% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
What is life at TCNJ like?
7,433 undergraduates, 5% of first-years from out of state. 84% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 44% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 16% of men join a fraternity and 19% of women a sorority. 21% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $86,752.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. TCNJ recommends 20 academic units.
- Early Decision is worth 15 points of admit rate, but it is binding and removes any ability to compare aid offers.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 12 of 20 who waited were admitted, about 60%.
- Its highest-earning major returns $105,889 five years out against $56,001 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about TCNJ
Does the TCNJ waitlist move?
20 students accepted a place on the TCNJ waiting list and 12 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do TCNJ graduates earn?
TCNJ graduates earn a median $73,323 ten years after entering, and 90% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with TCNJ
- Gettysburg CollegeAdmissions report · 40.1% admit rate
- Allegheny CollegeAdmissions report · 58.8% admit rate
- Valpo|VUAdmissions report · 89.9% admit rate
- St Olaf CollegeAdmissions report · 43.4% admit rate
- Skidmore CollegeAdmissions report · 23.7% admit rate
- Sarah Lawrence CollegeAdmissions report · 66.0% admit rate
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: TCNJ’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-09-20. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.