Montclair State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Montclair State University · Montclair, New Jersey · Public · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Action
- 26,224
- Applicants
- 23,443
- Admitted89%
- 3,816
- Enrolled
- 16%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access89% admittedRanked #156 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #345 (tie), Computer Science #276 (tie), Nursing #457 (tie), Economics #230-237U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Montclair State University (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Montclair State a reach, target or safety for your student?
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Montclair State is a public university in Montclair, New Jersey that admits about 89% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $15,566 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Research and Experimental Psychology and Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 66% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Montclair State is a public institution located in Montclair, New Jersey. For the most recent reporting cycle, Montclair State admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 89%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1000. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $15,566 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Montclair State?
58% of enrolled students at Montclair State had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.35, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
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What does Montclair State weight in admissions?
Montclair State reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Academic GPA
Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Application essay
- Recommendations
Considered
6- Class rank
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
7- Standardized test scores
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Montclair State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 430–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 555. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 850 |
| 50th percentile | 1000 |
| 75th percentile | 1160 |
| % submitting SAT | 10% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • SAT/ACT optional; submit only if they strengthen your application. Some arts programs require audition/portfolio.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Montclair State's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 8% |
| Top 25% of class | 28% |
| Top 50% of class | 62% |
| % submitting class rank | 35% |
How much does Montclair State actually cost?
Published tuition is $15,912 for in-state students and $26,022 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,730 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $15,566 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 47% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $15,678 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $26,394 |
| Room and board | $16,862 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $15,566 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 45% |
| Average need-based grant | $14,599 |
| Average merit award, no financial need532 first-year students received one | $4,215 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 58% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $39,728 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $65 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Montclair State
| Regular deadline | 3/1 |
| Notification date | Rolling basis beginning 15-Oct |
| Reply deadline | Must reply by May 1st or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | December 1 |
Will my child graduate from Montclair State?
These predict outcomes at Montclair State better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Montclair State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Montclair State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Research and Experimental Psychology and Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. Across all programs, Montclair State confers roughly 2,048 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $71,037 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 571 | $71,037 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 423 | n/a |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 271 | n/a |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 182 | $60,449 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 170 | $64,298 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 158 | $65,566 |
| Biology, General | 141 | $63,209 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 132 | $89,204 |
Is Montclair State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Montclair State disclosed 31 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 3 violent offenses and 15 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Montclair State?
About 26% of undergraduates at Montclair State live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 3% of men join a fraternity and 3% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in New Jersey parents ask about
Next steps for Montclair State
Common questions parents ask about Montclair State
What GPA do I need for Montclair State?
58% of enrolled students at Montclair State had a high school GPA of 3.25 or above, and the average was 3.35, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Montclair State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 430–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 555.
How much does Montclair State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Montclair State after grants and scholarships is $15,566 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $15,912 and $26,022 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Montclair State realistic for my child?
Montclair State admits 89% of applicants, so 430–590 SAT Math is target range and below 430 is a reach. Then check the $15,566 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Montclair State?
Montclair State accepts about 89% of applicants out of roughly 26,224 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Montclair State test-optional?
Yes. Montclair State is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Montclair State?
About 66% of students at Montclair State graduate within six years. 79% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Montclair State look for in applicants?
Montclair State rates GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Montclair State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Montclair State is a public institution located in Montclair, New Jersey.
What are the most popular majors at Montclair State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Montclair State by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Research and Experimental Psychology and Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. The school awards about 2,048 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Montclair State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Montclair State reported 31 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Montclair State?
At Montclair State, 26% of undergraduates live on campus, 3% of men are in fraternities, 3% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Montclair State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers