The College of New Jersey (TCNJ)

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) has created a culture of constant questioning. In small classes, students and faculty members collaborate in a rewarding process. They seek to understand fundamental principles, apply key concepts, reveal new problems and pursue lines of inquiry to gain a fluency of thought in their disciplines. This transformative process is at the core of the educational experience at The College.

In order to enhance student development and empowerment, TCNJ's curriculum is built around five key experiences which permeate every major across seven academic schools. Small classes prioritizing discussion and inquiry create a Personalized, Rigorous, and Collaborative Learning Environment where students and faculty work side by side in developing skills and applying concepts. Undergraduate Research, Mentored Internships, and Field Experiences give TCNJ students opportunities to get out of the classroom, develop their professional skill sets, and discover exciting career paths and academic endeavors. Passion for civic responsibility and a commitment to Community-Engaged Learning ensures that TCNJ graduates enter the professional world as top-notch scholars and citizens. Opportunities for Global Engagement found on campus and facilitated through internationally recognized study-abroad programs allow students to expand their internal scope and frame their academic goals and achievements in a truly global context. Finally, academic and extracurricular programs designed to foster Leadership Development help students build confidence and decision-making skills that they will need to solve the problems of tomorrow and build a brighter future.

TCNJ admits a diverse class each year full of ambitious students, eager to build on their educational foundations and dive into new topics. These students will ultimately find a home away from home on campus, and ninety-five percent of first-year students will return for their second year. The most successful admits are prepared to steer their own academic pursuits toward post-graduation goals of graduate school, professional training, or satisfying careers.

Prestigious graduate schools, including the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown Law School, Maxwell School at Syracuse University, NYU Law School, and Harvard, Yale, and Northwestern Universities, routinely welcome TCNJ alumni into their ranks. TCNJ graduates boast a 64% acceptance rate into Medical School and an 88% acceptance rate into Law School.

Many top corporations recruit TCNJ graduates, providing avenues into rewarding jobs directly after graduation. Other barometers of student success include the 100 percent pass rate of education majors taking the state teacher preparation test and the 94 percent three-year pass rate for nursing students obtaining their license. The numerous learning opportunities at The College prepare students to prosper in any arena after the completion of their undergraduate career.

Classroom learning at TCNJ is complemented by an extensive and acclaimed Leadership Development Program. Life outside the classroom is not something students do on the side. It is an extension of the learning experience. At every turn from the first year on, students blur the boundary between living and learning, closing the gap between "scholar" and "citizen."

More than 250 student organizations flourish at The College. Right off the bat, students are encouraged to discover their passion through the various clubs and activities offered. Anyone can find an intramural sports team, Greek organization, cultural club, or academic group to suit their interests. Many students build friendships as well as personal networks and optimize their leisure time participating in these groups. In addition, the College Union Board-administered by TCNJ students-organizes large-scale events including concerts, performances, and comedy shows.

The College's highly successful Division III athletic programs also provide an opportunity to socialize and cheer on fellow classmates. TCNJ fields ten sports for men and ten for women. With more than 40 national titles, The College holds the record for the highest number of championship and runner-up titles since Division III was implemented in 1979. For those looking for something a little less competitive, intramural and club sports, including flag football, volleyball, softball, floor hockey, and basketball, have thriving coed leagues of their own. Intramural and club teams play in state, regional, and national tournaments.

Students at TCNJ "are a breed all of their own" with "a wide variety of interests and talents." These "well-rounded and extraordinary individuals" are "determined and full of energy," and "dedicated in what they are participating in, whether it be academics, extracurricular activities, or sports." Together, these qualities create "a strong sense of community around an academic hub." A "large percentage of the student body is constantly busy" and "heavily involved in extracurricular activities." There's "a real sense of school spirit and camaraderie," and "we don't have a cliquey feeling or vibe." In fact, it's just the opposite: "Everyone is generally very helpful, supportive, and engaging of one another."

Life at TCNJ is busy, but there is "a fair balance of academic life with socialness, athletics, or relaxing time." TCNJ is housed on a "very beautiful and very unified" campus "[where] everything is in walking distance," and "people are always out and about so you never feel alone." The "Office of Student [Life] has fun programs that focused on extra activities," and there "are a lot of concerts and guest speakers, as well." Greek life "is pretty strong on campus," and "there are always philanthropy events to go to." While TCNJ has multiple sports teams, some students suggest that regular games are "sparsely attended," That said, there "are many nearby off-campus activities or group bike rides that students participate in," and days can fill up with a wide variety of activities like "going to the gym, fishing, running, sleeping, watching a movie, ice cream party, [visiting] friends, [or] extra readings." Philadelphia is just a half hour away for those wanting to sample the city, and "we are close to malls, restaurants, and movie theaters, which are all easily accessible through the highway nearby." Overall, the school "provides a lot of ways for students to get involved on campus and makes them readily known," and students "tend to engage fully in supplementary programs (i.e., lecture, awareness, volunteer, celebratory, or other campus events) often affiliated with their major."

With its strong academic focus, The College of New Jersey produces “successful and prepared graduates.” Professors “often email students with internship…opportunities,” and students praise the plethora of internships available and the study abroad options, which help connect them to the global job market. The school’s Career Center puts on events such as the Fall Engineering and Computer Science Networking Event, the Fall Opportunities Fair, and Industry Networking Days. Its many employer-partnerships feed into a robust and organized recruitment program. Students can access available job opportunities via Handshake and apply for paid micro-internships to flesh out their experience. According to one Political Science major, students “think about their futures here at TCNJ, and they’re always wondering what the next step will be” when it comes to jobs or graduate school. According to PayScale.com, 50 percent of College of New Jersey graduates would describe their careers as helping to improve the world, with a median starting salary of $70,500.