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Methodist Episcopal ChurchMethodist Episcopal Church · Photo: Josconklin · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Madison

Madison is home to two colleges, with 4,831 students on campus

Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus (2,671 students on campus) and Drew University (2,160) are inside the borough. About 12% of Madison’s residents are enrolled in college, above New Jersey (6%).

Drew UniversityFairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Madison. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
18
91,317 students on campus
Nearest college
0.4 mi
Drew University
Residents in college
12%
Above NJ (6%)
Nearest community college
8.1 mi
UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey · $5,280 tuition
Nearest public university
11.1 mi
Kean University · $14,299 in-state
Median household income
$171K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Madison

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 1.4 milesDrew University admits 68% of applicants; Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus admits 95%. Together they have 4,831 students on campus.A community college 8.1 miles awayUCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey in Cranford: tuition and fees $5,280 a year for New Jersey residents.In-state price at Kean UniversityLiving in New Jersey, Kean University charges $14,299 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,446. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 12% of residentsAbove New Jersey (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Madison

10 private colleges within 14.8 miles, five public colleges within 13.5 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miMontclair StateKean UniversityMadison
University or collegeCommunity college
Drew UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,160 on campus · In Madison68%admitted$24knet price70%graduate$64kearningsFairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,671 on campus · In Madison95%admitted$23knet price67%graduate$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Saint Elizabeth UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 874 on campus · 2 mi · Morristown71%admitted$23knet price51%graduate$53kearningsRabbinical College of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 206 on campus · 5.4 mi · Morristown95%admitted$16knet price22%graduate$35kearningsUCNJ Union College of Union County, New JerseyCommunity college · Public · 6,539 on campus · 8.1 mi · Cranford$8knet price35%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $5,280 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Seton Hall UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,564 on campus · 9.1 mi · South Orange73%admitted$31knet price69%graduate$70kearningsCaldwell UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,822 on campus · 9.2 mi · Caldwell71%admitted$25knet price57%graduate$54kearningsCounty College of MorrisCommunity college · Public · 5,346 on campus · 11 mi · Randolph$9knet price36%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,210 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Kean UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 11,988 on campus · 11.1 mi · Union76%admitted$12knet price47%graduate$57kearningsBloomfield College of Montclair State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 851 on campus · 12 mi · Bloomfield70%admitted$28knet price38%graduate$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.New Jersey Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Public · 12,314 on campus · 12.6 mi · Newark65%admitted$17knet price73%graduate$84kearningsEssex County CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,890 on campus · 12.6 mi · Newark$4knet price20%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $5,415 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Rutgers University-NewarkUniversity or college · Public · 9,695 on campus · 12.7 mi · Newark71%admitted$20knet price64%graduate$74kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Pillar CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 549 on campus · 13.1 mi · Newark$8knet price38%graduate$46kearningsMontclair State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 20,428 on campus · 13.5 mi · Montclair88%admitted$16knet price65%graduate$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.American Institute of Medical Sciences & EducationUniversity or college · For-profit · 397 on campus · 13.6 mi · Piscataway88%graduate$40kearningsHackensack Meridian School of MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 567 on campus · 14.7 mi · NutleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Eastwick College-NutleyUniversity or college · For-profit · 456 on campus · 14.8 mi · Nutley$17knet price57%graduate$43kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Madison’s median household income ($171,471) falls.

Essex County College12.6 mi · Newark · sticker $12,506 · tuition $5,415$9,647a year
UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey8.1 mi · Cranford · sticker $13,569 · tuition $5,280$11,965a year
County College of Morris11 mi · Randolph · sticker $15,033 · tuition $6,210$14,481a year
Kean University11.1 mi · Union · sticker $26,949$20,110a year
Eastwick College-Nutley14.8 mi · Nutley · sticker $26,454$23,728a year
Montclair State University13.5 mi · Montclair · sticker $28,305$25,573a year
New Jersey Institute of Technology12.6 mi · Newark · sticker $32,859$27,244a year
Caldwell University9.2 mi · Caldwell · sticker $54,073$30,449a year
Saint Elizabeth University2 mi · Morristown · sticker $53,075$30,559a year
Rutgers University-Newark12.7 mi · Newark · sticker $35,654$33,018a year
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusIn Madison · sticker $54,204$34,331a year
Drew UniversityIn Madison · sticker $65,301$35,512a year
Bloomfield College of Montclair State University12 mi · Bloomfield · sticker $42,035$36,558a year
Seton Hall University9.1 mi · South Orange · sticker $68,263$41,783a year
Rabbinical College of America5.4 mi · Morristown · sticker $27,300—a year
Pillar College13.1 mi · Newark · sticker $38,047—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Madison: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →UCNJ Union College of Union County, New JerseySeton Hall UniversityKean UniversityNew Jersey Institute of TechnologyRutgers University-NewarkMontclair State
Montclair State University65% graduate$61k earnings*$22k typical debt
New Jersey Institute of Technology73% graduate$84k earnings$21k typical debt
Kean University47% graduate$57k earnings$23k typical debt
Rutgers University-Newark64% graduate$74k earnings*$22k typical debt
Seton Hall University69% graduate$70k earnings$23k typical debt
UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey35% graduate$42k earnings$15k typical debt
Essex County College20% graduate$37k earnings
County College of Morris36% graduate$50k earnings$9k typical debt
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus67% graduate$57k earnings*$25k typical debt
Drew University70% graduate$64k earnings$25k typical debt
Caldwell University57% graduate$54k earnings$25k typical debt
Saint Elizabeth University51% graduate$53k earnings$25k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus (2); Bloomfield College of Montclair State (2); Rutgers University-Newark (3); Montclair State (2).

Majors

What students study in Madison

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Madison’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 22%Psychology 14%Visual & performing arts 10%Biology 8%Social sciences 7%Health professions 5%Everything else 35%

Biggest programs

Psychology, GeneralFairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus · 58 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsDrew University · 52 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsFairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus · 43 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsFairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus · 40 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingFairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus · 36 graduates a year
$99k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralDrew University · 34 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
CriminologyFairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus · 33 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralDrew University · 30 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Madison

Is Madison a college town?

No. About 12 of every 100 Madison residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above New Jersey (6). The largest campus in the borough, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, has 2,671 students on campus.

What colleges are in Madison?

Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus and Drew University are inside the borough. UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey is 8.1 miles away in Cranford.

What is the closest community college to Madison, and what does it cost?

UCNJ Union College of Union County, New Jersey in Cranford, 8.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,280 a year for New Jersey residents; the federal net price, $8,257, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Kean University cost if we live in New Jersey?

Tuition and fees are $14,299 a year in-state and $22,446 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,374 (under $30,000 income) to $20,110 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Madison. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →