New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey's public polytechnic in Newark, with engineering, computing and design at the edge of the New York job market.
- Acceptance rate
- 65%
- First-year students entering fall 2024 (IPEDS via College Navigator)
- Students
- 13,247
- 10,200 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 15:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $42,300
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1881
About NJIT
New Jersey Institute of Technology was founded in 1881 as Newark Technical School and took its current name in 1975. It is New Jersey's public polytechnic university, with about 13,000 students on a compact campus in the University Heights district of Newark, in the New York metropolitan area. NJIT is classified R1 by Carnegie and spent more than $170 million on research in FY2024.
Teaching is organised into six colleges: the Newark College of Engineering (1919), the Hillier College of Architecture and Design, the Jordan Hu College of Science and Liberal Arts, the Martin Tuchman School of Management, the Ying Wu College of Computing and the Albert Dorman Honors College. The curriculum is computing-intensive across majors, and research strengths include solar-terrestrial physics, applied mathematics, materials science and cybersecurity. NJIT's Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research runs the Big Bear Solar Observatory in California.
NJIT admitted 65% of about 15,600 first-year applicants for fall 2024 and is test-optional for fall 2027 except for the honors college. It suits career-focused students who want engineering, computing, architecture or business with internships in the New York metro area, and whose idea of campus life is urban rather than a leafy college town.
Why students choose NJIT
Location: NJIT highlights internships at top companies in the New York City region, close to its Newark campus.
Strong returns: NJIT cites a top-2% PayScale ranking for return on investment and a No. 31 US News social-mobility ranking.
The Albert Dorman Honors College, whose enrolling first-years average a 1502 SAT and a 3.95 GPA.
Specialised colleges for computing (Ying Wu College of Computing) and architecture and design (Hillier College), alongside the century-old Newark College of Engineering.
Admissions
First-year students entering fall 2024 (IPEDS via College Navigator)
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
IPEDS reports 15,607 applicants with 65% admitted and 17% of admits enrolling for fall 2024. NJIT generally looks for students in the top 25% of their class, or a 3.0+ GPA at schools without rank. Fall 2025 was NJIT's largest entering class, at more than 1,900 students.
Typical entry requirements
| US high school | Top 25% of class, or 3.0+ GPA where schools do not rank; rigorous courses such as AP or IB help |
|---|---|
| International secondary | Transcript in English with English composition, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry and physics; top 25% of class or 3.0+ GPA equivalent |
| Architecture and design majors | Digital portfolio of creative work required |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 79 TOEFL iBT 79 (old scale) or 4.0 (new scale), IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 100 or PTE 53. Exempt if educated in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and a few other listed countries. |
Deadlines
- Early Action I Non-binding Next deadline · In 40 daysNovember 15, 2026
Non-binding. Applications are evaluated as soon as the file is complete.
- Early Action II Non-binding In ~2 monthsDecember 15, 2026
Non-binding.
- Albert Dorman Honors College Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 1, 2027
SAT or ACT scores required.
- Rolling admission (fall) Non-binding In ~5 monthsMarch 1, 2027
Also the final fall cutoff for international undergraduates; NJIT recommends international applicants start at least six months before the semester.
NJIT lists recurring first-year dates without a year on its first-year page, which references the fall 2027 test policy; years here assume the fall 2027 cycle.
How to apply
Common App; $75 fee or waiver; official high school transcript; Common App essay; letter of recommendation; SAT/ACT optional (required for Honors College and accelerated programs); portfolio for architecture and design majors. International applicants add an English test score.
What admissions looks for
- How you challenged yourself relative to the curriculum available at your school, and the trend in your grades.
- High school GPA, ideally placing you in the top 25% of your class (3.0+ where there is no rank).
- Your Common App essay, used to assess writing and learn what you would contribute to NJIT.
- A recommendation giving an outside view of you as a student, and for design majors a portfolio that can decide admission.
Tips for applying to NJIT
- 1 Apply by the Early Action I date (November 15) for the earliest decision; files are reviewed as soon as they are complete.
- 2 If you have good SAT or ACT scores, send them: they are required for the Honors College and can unlock endowed scholarships.
- 3 Architecture, digital design, industrial design and interior design applicants should put real effort into the portfolio.
- 4 Fill out the FAFSA: NJIT automatically considers FAFSA filers for every scholarship and grant they are eligible for.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for New Jersey Institute of Technology
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
NJIT offers hundreds of scholarships, grants and awards for academic merit, test scores, athletics, financial need and residency, and FAFSA filers are automatically considered for every award they qualify for. Most merit scholarships renew each year while students meet their terms. Test scores can matter for some endowed scholarships.
- $42,300 + $18,900 + $5,500 + $2,900
- 2026-27 on-campus budget, non-NJ resident (tuition and fees, housing and food, indirect costs, books)
- About $25,000-$27,700
- Average net price for families earning $110,001+ (IPEDS)
- More than 50%
- Freshmen living on campus
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Engineering (Newark College of Engineering)
NJIT's oldest college, dating to 1919, whose graduates include catalytic-converter co-inventor John J. Mooney.
Computing (Ying Wu College of Computing)
A dedicated computing college founded in 2001, backed by NJIT research in cybersecurity, data security and privacy.
Architecture and Design (Hillier College)
Portfolio-based admission and the Littman Library for Architecture and Design in Weston Hall.
Albert Dorman Honors College
A selective honors college whose entering students average a 1502 SAT and 3.95 GPA.
Applied mathematics and solar physics
NJIT's research centres include the Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research, which runs major solar observatories in California.
Research
- R1 Carnegie classification and more than $170 million in research expenditures in FY2024.
- The Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research operates the Big Bear Solar Observatory in Big Bear Lake, California, and the Owens Valley Solar Array.
- The New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), launched in 2014, partners with industry and government on applied R&D.
- 175 research institutes, centres and specialised labs, and a VentureLink business incubator on campus.
Schools & faculties
- Newark College of Engineering
- Hillier College of Architecture and Design
- Jordan Hu College of Science and Liberal Arts
- Martin Tuchman School of Management
- Ying Wu College of Computing
- Albert Dorman Honors College
College Scorecard: median earnings of $84,276 ten years after entry (and $69,591 six years after entry) for federally aided students.
Student life
NJIT is an urban campus with many commuters: more than half of freshmen but only about a quarter of all undergraduates live in university housing. It sits in University Heights, a neighbourhood NJIT describes as home to more than 30,000 college students. The Highlanders compete in NCAA Division I, mainly in the America East Conference, and the men's basketball team famously beat 17th-ranked Michigan in 2014. With New York City close by, internships in the region are part of many students' plans.
- NJIT Highlanders: NCAA Division I varsity teams, mostly in the America East Conference, including fencing and men's volleyball.
- University Heights, a district shared with other Newark colleges and more than 30,000 students.
- Student newspaper, clubs and an on-campus business incubator (VentureLink) for student founders.
- Pre-college STEM programmes that serve more than 4,000 students and teachers a year.
Housing. More than 50% of freshmen and about 25% of all undergraduates live on campus; the 2026-27 on-campus housing and food budget is $18,900.
Location
Newark is New Jersey's most populous city, with about 324,000 people, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. NJIT's campus is in University Heights, a neighbourhood shared with other colleges, and the university points students to public transport for getting to campus and into New York City, so daily life is urban and internships across the region are within reach.
Nearest airport: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Notable alumni
- JP Judea PearlTuring Award-winning computer scientist (MS electrical engineering 1961)
- PR Pierre RamondPhysicist and pioneer of superstring theory (BSEE 1965)
- JJ John J. MooneyCo-inventor of the three-way catalytic converter (MS chemical engineering 1960)
- EM Ellen M. PawlikowskiRetired four-star US Air Force general (BS chemical engineering)
- HL Harry L. EttlingerOne of the Monuments Men, Congressional Gold Medal recipient (BS mechanical engineering 1950)
- BH Beatrice HicksEngineer and co-founder of the Society of Women Engineers (BS chemical engineering 1939)
- WS Wally SchirraMercury, Gemini and Apollo astronaut (attended before transferring to the US Naval Academy)
- OC Orange CassidyProfessional wrestler (BS architecture 2007)
Frequently asked questions
What is NJIT's acceptance rate?
NJIT admitted 65% of its 15,607 first-year applicants for fall 2024, according to federal IPEDS data.
Is NJIT test-optional for fall 2027?
Yes, for most first-year applicants. Applicants to the Albert Dorman Honors College and accelerated programs must submit SAT or ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for NJIT?
Enrolled fall 2024 first-years who submitted scores had middle-50% SAT section scores of 600-710 (reading and writing) and 610-750 (math). NJIT reports an average SAT of 1285-1317 for recent classes and 1502 for Honors College freshmen.
When are NJIT's application deadlines?
Early Action I is November 15 and Early Action II December 15, the Honors College deadline is February 1, and rolling admission for fall runs to March 1, which is also the international cutoff.
How much does NJIT cost for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, non-New Jersey residents pay $42,300 in tuition and fees; on-campus housing and food add $18,900.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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