How much does college really cost in New Jersey? Here's what students paid

Hannan Adely | NorthJersey

Show Caption Hide Caption Rutgers University 252nd commencement Rutgers University 252nd commencement at High Point Solutions Stadium on Sunday, May 13, 2018.

Rutgers University’s governing board voted this month to raise tuition by 2.3 percent to nearly $15,000 — but even after the increase, it’s still one of the best deals around among four-year schools in New Jersey.

Often, the sticker price of tuition doesn’t reflect the actual amount that students pay after financial aid and scholarships. In some cases, the difference can be significant and an influx of aid can narrow the gap between what a student would pay for a public or private university.

At Rutgers-Newark, the average student paid $12,020 for tuition, fees and room and board in the 2016-17 school year, less than any other school in the state, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

But the best deal was at Princeton University. While the average student paid $16,300 to attend the Ivy League school, the price was far lower or free for poor and middle-class families.

Princeton states on its website that it covers 100 percent of tuition and fees for students who apply for aid with a family income of up to $120,000. Like other Ivy League schools, the university has expanded financial aid to attract families from diverse economic backgrounds.

New Jersey City University and Rutgers-Camden were also among the most affordable schools, based on a review of aid, average tuition paid and tuition paid by income level.

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St. Peter’s University, a private, Catholic college in Jersey City, also was generous with aid. Financial aid and scholarships for students St. Peter’s brought the average cost of attending the school lower than most public universities.

The biggest tuition bills were paid at Stevens Institute of Technology, where the average student shelled out $38,469 for a year's tuition, fees, room and board. Students at Monmouth University and Rider University also paid more than those at other private and public colleges.

Data analyst Dave Sheingold contributed to this report.