I cannot answer that question for you. No one can yet, because the answer depends on three things, and this article knows only one: what Montclair State University is. You bring the other two—what your child wants and what your family can afford. But I can give you the first piece in full, without embellishment and without fear, so you can put it on the table alongside the other two.
Let’s take it one part at a time.
Who this university is
Montclair State University is a public, four-year-or-higher university in Montclair, New Jersey, within Passaic County. It is located within the New York-Newark-Jersey City metropolitan area, but that does not mean the campus is in the heart of that city: the census code places it in a suburb, within the urbanized area but outside the principal urban center. If your child is thinking about living at home and driving every day, do not rely on what the map says. Make the trip yourself on a weekday, at the time your child would have class. Real traffic is almost never what Google Maps promises.
Carnegie, the system that classifies the country’s universities by what they do, places it among doctoral institutions with high research activity and describes it as a large, four-year, primarily residential school. IPEDS—the federal system that collects these data—confirms that a doctorate is the highest level it reports offering and that it is an institution that primarily awards bachelor’s degrees or higher. That institutional information does not tell you whether the specific field your child is interested in extends through the graduate level. You confirm that by asking about the exact program.
One note worth setting apart, because it is sometimes misunderstood: Montclair State University is not registered as a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 universities in this federal directory, 138 have at least one of those three designations; this one is not among them. That does not say which communities it serves, how many Latino students there are, or how your child will feel there. Those questions are answered differently, and I will now explain how.
A community where being Latino is not the exception
Here is a fact worth stopping to read twice: 38 out of every 100 undergraduate students at Montclair State University were reported as Hispanic or Latino. That is more than one in four. And compared with the 519 selective-admission, four-year public schools that make up this census’s comparison group, it reports one of the highest proportions—nine out of ten of those schools reported an equal or lower figure.
Put simply: on this campus, being Latino would not be the exception.
But I want to be honest with you about what this number does not say, because it is easy to get excited about a figure like this and stop there. A high percentage of Latino students is not the same as support for Latino students. This figure counts how many there are, not whether there is a counselor who speaks Spanish, whether there is tutoring designed for them, or whether those students finish their degrees at the same rate as everyone else. And it is the percentage for the entire school, not for the specific field your child is interested in. Counting is not the same as serving. If this matters to you—and for many families it rightly does—ask about the cultural centers that are active today, about student organizations, and, better yet, talk with someone who is already studying there.
Other features of this community: there are more women than men among undergraduates, 59 out of every 100. Students ages 25 to 64 are a minority, 8 out of every 100—this is not primarily a school for adults returning to their studies. And 94 out of every 100 first-time students reported a permanent address in New Jersey when they applied. Above all, it is a university of the state, for the state.
The school’s actual size
In its official fall count, Montclair State University reported 22,570 enrolled students. It falls within the highest band the government uses to measure this: 20,000 or more. Compared with its 519 peers in this census, it is on the larger side—only between one and three out of every ten of those schools have more students.
Of that total, 18,062 are undergraduates and 4,508 are graduate students. Above all, it is a bachelor’s-level school.
But here is something I want you to take away carefully: a large school does not necessarily have large classes. Those are two different things, and total enrollment tells you nothing about how many students your child will have alongside them in a first-year class. Ask directly, and ask about the specific field.
One fact that helps put the overall size in context: the ratio of students to instructional staff, both measured on a full-time-equivalent basis, is 17 to 1. Compared with its peers, it falls in the middle of the table—neither among the lowest nor among the highest. This number also does not tell you the actual size of a class. IPEDS does not report the method behind that figure or the size of first-year course sections. Ask directly once you have a field in mind.
How the academic year works and which credits it recognizes
The year at Montclair State University is organized into semesters: two long terms, each about 15 weeks. This is standard at most universities in this country, so if you are coming from a different system, it is good to know this now.
The institution stated that it accepts credit for AP exams. It did not check the box for credit based on life experience. It also reports enrolling high school students in college courses for credit outside a formal dual-enrollment program, treating them as regular students in those courses. And it does accept credit for military training.
Here is the warning that truly matters: saying that it accepts AP does not mean it awards credit for every exam at every score. It does not say what score is required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits will count toward your child’s specific degree. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not include those savings in your budget until you have confirmation on paper.
What you can study there
In a single year, Montclair State University awarded 3,788 bachelor’s degrees across 23 families of fields of study—what the government calls CIP families. The family that produced the most degrees was business and management, with 20 out of every 100 degrees that year—a notable portion, but far from dominating the total. No other family surpassed it, and no single family accounts for the bulk of the total either.
Compared with the 514 similar schools in this census that reported the data, it falls within the quarter that awards the most bachelor’s degrees each year. Its range of offerings is broad.
A necessary clarification: 23 families with rows in the detailed data do not mean 23 complete degree programs or 23 families guaranteed to have awarded degrees—a CIP family groups several programs, and some rows may report zero degrees for that year. What this tells you is that there is broad variety. What it does not tell you is whether the exact program your child wants exists today, under what name, and with what requirements. That must be verified program by program.
The institution also reports structured academic pathways worth knowing about if they apply to what your child is seeking: study abroad, undergraduate research outside the classroom, a complete program that can be taken only at night or on weekends, and several routes related to teacher certification, including the possibility of completing that preparation at another institution.
Getting in: what the application requires and how likely a yes is
Let’s start with what the application requires, because it is more than many families expect. Montclair State University does not have open admission: it reviews application components before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marks six as required: the high school record, grade point average, completion of the college-preparatory course curriculum required by the university, the personal essay, letters of recommendation, and an English proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. It also considers, though they are not required, your child’s class rank, a portfolio or competency exam, and work experience.
It is a long application. Each piece takes time to assemble, not just one night before the deadline. The essay, in particular, is required here—your child should start it during the summer, not the week before the application closes. The first draft is almost never the one that gets submitted. The published application fee is $65.
Now, the question that creates the most anxiety: how likely are they to say yes? In the 2023 cycle, Montclair State University received 23,599 first-year applications and offered admission to 20,629 applicants. That is 87 out of every 100. Compared with its 519 peers in this census, it is a common rate, slightly above that group’s midpoint.
It is among the schools that do admit applicants. But be careful: 2,970 applicants out of those 23,599 did not receive an offer. Admission is likely, not automatic, and the application must be complete and on time.
And here is something important that almost no family knows until it experiences it: being admitted is not the same as deciding to attend. Out of every 100 students admitted in 2023, only 20 ultimately enrolled at Montclair State University. The remaining 80 had a place and did not take it. Do not read that as a mark against the school—the federal record does not say why each person chose what they chose, and this proportion is among the most common among its peers. What it does tell you, usefully, is this: what others decided does not predict what your family will be offered. Wait for your letter with the net price—what the year will actually cost—before deciding whether this school stays on the list.
Regarding standardized tests: the SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if your child does not, the application remains under consideration just the same. Among those who did submit SAT scores—only 8 out of every 100 enrolled students—the middle half scored between 480 and 620 in reading and writing, and between 460 and 605 in mathematics. That range describes those who enrolled and submitted scores, not all applicants, and it does not prove that the score determined anyone’s admission. It is neither a minimum nor a guarantee.
Regarding transfers: of the first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 22 out of every 100 transferred to another institution without completing here. Changing schools is not failing. On the other side, in the fall of 2023, 1,378 undergraduate students arrived who enrolled here for the first time after studying at another institution—a sizable incoming group. If your child is considering transferring, in either direction, ask in writing, with the course list in hand, which credits will be recognized. This figure showing how many students enter or leave tells you nothing about how many courses survive the change.
The price: what they advertise and what is actually paid
At Montclair State University, among 1,143 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and paid the in-state or in-district rate and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $9,482. Among 420 students from the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $15,990; among 448 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $23,607. For dependent students, the band combines their parents’ income with their own.
There is a difference of $14,125 between the average for the lowest-income band (1,143 students) and the average for the highest-income band (448 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family’s price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship aid, the average was $13,880.
The advertised price is not the same as the price paid. Here, for students with low income, the average net price was $9,482 in the 2022-23 academic year.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant or scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The financial aid letter sent to you is what governs.
How it is paid for: grants, loans, and options
At Montclair State University, 63 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some form of aid that does not have to be repaid—a scholarship or a state, federal, or institutional grant. That is more than half, but not everyone. Compared with its peers, it falls within the quarter where that aid reaches fewer students. Among those who did receive it, the annual average was $12,032.
Separately, 45 out of every 100 students received a Pell Grant, the federal aid reserved for families with demonstrated financial need.
Watch out for something that confuses many families: the percentage and the average should not be multiplied by each other. One says how many students received aid; the other says how much those who received it got. They are two different calculations with different denominators.
Regarding loans: 40 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan in the 2022-23 school year—more than two out of ten, but fewer than half. Among those who borrowed, the average amount was $6,223 that year. Compared with its peers, this is a common proportion, neither among the highest nor among the lowest.
This number does not tell you which group your child will fall into. That will be determined by the financial aid letter sent to your child in writing. And that average loan amount is for only one year and only for federal loans in the student’s name—it does not include loans that parents sometimes sign for, credit card debt, or the debt accumulated over the entire degree. Wait for that letter before ruling out the school and before committing to it.
If paying in one lump sum is not feasible for your family, the institution reports an installment tuition payment plan as an option.
Campus life, support, and learning format
Montclair State University does have institution-controlled housing, with reported capacity for 5,093 students on or off campus. It is not required for all first-time, full-time students—although that does not mean no program requires it; ask about the exact rule for your child’s year and program. Meal plans are also available, although the number of meals per week varies according to the plan selected. The existence of the option does not guarantee a place: request the current rate, the application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or you will be placed on a waiting list, all in writing.
Regarding ROTC: in its most recent report, the institution did not mark any ROTC opportunity, either the general box or any of the three branches. Among the four-year institutions in this guide, 926 out of 1,786 did mark it; this one was not among them. That does not prove there is no nearby pathway—it only means none was reported in this field. If this is important to your family, ask admissions directly before ruling it out.
In sports, it does compete at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported participation in football, basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. This does not tell you which division each sport competes in or whether a scholarship is available for your child’s sport. That question should be asked directly of the coach, in writing.
Regarding distance education: it is offered at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. But it is the exception, not the rule—only 4 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all their classes at a distance; the other 96 took at least one class in person. The institution also reports offering at least one complete program that can be completed at a distance, although the data do not clarify whether that specific program is at the undergraduate or graduate level: confirm this for the field your child is interested in.
The library operates with paid staff, and its annual spending exceeds the $100,000 threshold recorded by the federal government—it has physical and digital materials and participates in interlibrary lending. Exceeding that threshold does not guarantee that it has the specific databases your child’s field requires; ask about those by program name.
Reported services include combined academic and career counseling, employment services for current students and placement services for graduates, on-campus child care, participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, a student veterans organization, and a webpage for services for students with disabilities.
They stay, they graduate: what the cohorts say
Here we reach the question that carries the most weight: if my child enrolls, will they stay? Will they graduate?
Of the cohort that entered in the fall of 2022—3,940 first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students—3,141 met the official retention criterion the following year. That is 80 out of every 100: they were still enrolled there or had already completed the degree. Compared with its 519 peers, it falls slightly above the middle of the table. Neither among the best nor among the worst. More stayed than left.
Two things this number does not say, and that are worth understanding clearly: the source does not separate those who are still studying from those who have already graduated, and not returning to this school is not the same as leaving higher education altogether—someone who transferred to another university and remains enrolled there is counted the same as someone who stopped studying entirely.
Regarding graduation: IPEDS tracked 3,002 first-time, full-time, bachelor’s-degree-seeking students who entered in 2017. By the six-year mark, 1,929 had graduated from there. That is 64 out of every 100. At four years—the time frame most families build into their budgets—the figure drops to 46 out of every 100, eighteen percentage points lower. Compared with its 518 peers, half the group or more reported the same proportion or a lower one.
That eighteen-point difference between four and six years has a practical name: it is the fifth year that many families did not budget for. The data do not tell you how many additional semesters each student needed or how much that additional time cost. Before signing, ask in writing how long your child’s specific program usually takes, how its required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if it takes longer.
Of the rest of that cohort of 2017: 649 transferred to another institution without completing there; 72 remained enrolled without graduating within the time limit; and 352 fell into the federal “no longer enrolled” category, which does not explain why and may include people who did graduate, but only after the measured time limit.
There is a longer, eight-year measure worth knowing because it tells a different story. From a cohort of 5,180 students who entered between 2015 and 2016—this time combining first-time students with those who already had prior college experience, both full-time and part-time—71 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this institution by the August 2023 cutoff. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was 69 out of every 100, just four percentage points below the rest. Compared with its peers, it falls within the top quarter: three out of four similar schools reported an equal or lower proportion.
A high percentage is not a promise for your child in particular. It describes an earlier cohort that entered years ago under conditions that may have changed. What you can do with this number is ask about the current support available in the program your child is interested in and request outcomes for more recent cohorts if they are available.
What you already know, and what remains yours to decide
You now know Montclair State University with a depth few families reach before deciding: you know what its community is like, how large it is, what it requires for admission, how much it costs on paper and how much it ultimately costs in practice, and how the people who enroll there fare year after year.
None of these numbers decides for you. Nor do they decide for your child. Your child must explore, work hard, write the essay, and decide what to study and why. You must understand the family’s finances, help navigate the major decisions, and make sure no deadline is missed because you did not know about it. It is not your life at stake here. But neither is it a process your child should walk through alone.
Bring together what you now know about the university, what your child wants to build, and what your family can and is willing to pay. A real plan emerges from those three pieces together, not from any one of them alone.
Source note: the information in this article comes from IPEDS and the United States Department of Education, using data from the cycles and cohorts indicated in each section. Best College Aid does not represent Montclair State University or any government agency; this piece is an independent explanation of public data.