Building on a distinguished history dating back to 1908, Montclair State University has evolved from an institution that was a recognized leader in teacher education to an R2 research institution ranked as one of the 100 best public doctoral universities in the nation. The University serves 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 300 doctoral, master’s and baccalaureate programs provided by 13 colleges and schools.
Situated on a beautiful 252-acre campus just 12 miles from New York City, Montclair delivers the instructional and research resources of a large public university while retaining the supportive and personalized academic environment that provides a feeling of community more typical of smaller institutions. With a reputation as the state’s premier public-service university, Montclair is highly engaged with the communities it serves, partnering with local governments, businesses, nonprofits, schools, community organizations and health-care providers to fashion solutions to urgent problems in areas ranging from education, public policy, health care, sustainability and more. The University has strong and growing partnerships in both Newark and Paterson that have been recognized as leading examples of campus-community engagement.
Montclair has seen record enrollment in the last few years, and today stands as one of New Jersey’s most successfully diverse institutions, serving a minority-majority student population with significant numbers of Pell Grant recipients and students who are in the first generation in their families to attend college. The University is a leader among national universities in its graduation performance rates and is frequently recognized as one of the best for social mobility and value by publications that include U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and Washington Monthly. In addition, it has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse as ranking among the top universities in the country, and Newsweek ranks Montclair’s online programs No. 1 in New Jersey and No. 24 nationally.
The University is innovative and entrepreneurial. It has launched several new schools and colleges and dozens of new degree programs in recent years and established a number of important research centers and institutes. Montclair’s faculty members are superb teachers and talented researchers, and they include winners of prestigious national awards including NSF CAREER grants, NEH grants and a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” grant.
Montclair started the process of merging with Bloomfield College in the fall of 2022 and the State of New Jersey formalized the union in July 2023. As a result, Bloomfield’s important mission will continue, and its students will be able to complete their education without interruption while benefiting from Montclair’s lower tuition and fees and the support of the second largest public research university in New Jersey. Bloomfield is the only four-year institution in New Jersey that has been designated as a Predominantly Black Institution, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Minority Serving Institution. This partnership between two Essex County institutions is regarded as a national model.
Montclair State University President Jonathan GS Koppell believes strongly that this is a pivotal moment in higher education, and that Montclair – with its deep commitment to serving the public interest and advancing student success – has an opportunity to define the future. The University continues to build on its strong foundation of excellence in bold, imaginative ways to contribute to the prosperity, health and well-being of New Jersey and the nation while creating hands-on learning opportunities that will prepare students to thrive in the 21st century.
Through all the decades and its substantial growth, Montclair State University has always remained true to the ideals on which it was founded: providing a rigorous, affordable education that is accessible to all students, regardless of their means, and which prepares them to serve society and to lead lives of purpose and meaning.