NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Rutgers has Penn State beat.

It is also ahead of North Carolina State, Purdue, Clemson and Michigan State, when it comes to academic rankings, according to a new list released by Business First, a publication of American City Business Journals.

The online magazine rated the top 250 schools in numerical order, followed by the next 255 schools in alphabetical order.

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Among eastern schools, Rutgers is ranked sixth behind Maryland, Connecticut, Binghamton University in New York, Delaware and Pittsburgh.

Business First looked at such factors as test scores, graduation rates and projected future earnings in compiling the list.

According to the publication, 76.6% of former students earn $25,000 or more a year and the median annual earnings for a former student (10 years after entering the school) is $57,900.

Here is how other colleges and universities in New Jersey ranked:

College of New Jersey - No. 34





Ramapo - No. 63

Rutgers-Newark - No. 77

New Jersey Institute of Technology - No. 82

Rutgers-Camden - No. 85

Rowan University - No. 97

Montclair State - No. 143

Stockton University - No. 161

William Paterson - No. 245