University Announces Tuition and Fees

The Board of Trustees at Montclair State University has set tuition and fee rates for the 2025-2026 academic year, and approved an increase to financial aid to help ensure students will continue to have access to an affordable, excellent education.

Tuition and mandatory fees will be $16,854 per year for in-state, full-time undergraduate students, an increase of $471 per semester. Montclair will maintain its longstanding commitment to affordability by granting more than $42 million in institutional aid, the highest total in University history.

In addition, eligible incoming first-year students have access to the Red Hawk Advantage program, which ensures funding that reduces the total cost of attendance. Coupled with the State’s Garden State Guarantee, many students have a pathway to graduate with little to no debt. Montclair’s student debt, which averages $22,000, is far lower than the national average of $29,300.

Montclair serves a student body reflective of New Jersey’s diversity. More than 50% of undergraduate students identify as minority group members. Nearly half of Montclair’s students qualify for federal Pell Grants because they come from lower-income families.

More than 76% of Montclair students receive some form of financial assistance, and 32% of students will continue to see all of their tuition and fees covered. An additional 36% will pay less than $10,000. Just one-third of students – who are not eligible for income-based assistance – will pay the full cost.

“The rising costs of maintaining a high-quality institution unfortunately require us to raise tuition,” says Montclair President Jonathan Koppell. “We remain strongly committed to providing an excellent education at an affordable price, and will not balance our budget by compromising on quality or cutting back on services that our students need. We are proud that Montclair is the most efficient University in New Jersey and we will continue to deliver a valuable degree to our students at the most affordable price possible, because that is what they deserve.”

According to The Wall Street Journal’s annual Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, the salary boost for a typical Montclair graduate covers their out-of-pocket cost of attending in less than two years.

“A Montclair degree is still one of the best investments someone can make,” says Koppell. “The return on investment will be felt immediately and continue for the rest of a student’s life. But more importantly, the investment will allow a student to change the trajectory of their family and of their respective communities. Our commitment to accessible, affordable and excellent education is why we are able to help students achieve these life-changing outcomes.”

The Board of Trustees also set tuition and fees for out-of-state undergraduates at $27,570 per year, an increase of $774 per semester. Most master’s degree students will pay $22,670 per year, an increase of $631 per semester.

For more information on tuition and financial aid at Montclair, visit montclair.edu/red-hawk-central.