

The College of New Jersey is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation evaluates the college as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval of an individual professional program.
Program-specific status can be important in fields such as engineering, nursing, business, and education. Applicants pursuing a licensed profession should check the accreditation or state approval of their exact program and whether it satisfies the rules in the state where they intend to practice. Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and can matter when credits are reviewed elsewhere, but it does not guarantee that another college will accept a particular course or that a graduate will qualify for a license.
TCNJ does not use open admission: first-year applicants are reviewed for admission and generally submit an application and a secondary-school transcript showing their academic record. Applicants should follow the requirements published for their intended entry term and program.
In the reported admissions data, the college admitted about 62% of first-time, first-year applicants. That is an institution-wide result, not an applicant's probability of admission to a particular major. Half of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores, while a much smaller share submitted ACT scores. Those figures do not make scores mandatory; applicants should check the current testing policy before deciding whether to send them. Essays, recommendations, English-language proficiency documentation, and additional materials may depend on applicant category or program. International applicants and students seeking a credential equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma should check the instructions applicable to their educational background.
The reported undergraduate application fee is $65. Because application charges and waiver procedures can change by admission cycle, applicants should check the fee displayed in TCNJ's application instructions before submitting.
Students who cannot afford an application fee should review the college's current fee-waiver instructions and request a waiver through the permitted application process. A waiver should be resolved before paying: an application-fee waiver is different from a tuition award, financial aid application, or enrollment deposit. Transfer, graduate, and other applicant categories may have separate instructions.
TCNJ students may have access to Army and Air Force ROTC through cooperating institutions rather than through branch units operated directly by TCNJ. Participation can require travel and coordination between ROTC activities and a TCNJ class schedule.
An interested student should confirm the current host arrangement, cross-registration process, transportation expectations, and whether ROTC coursework counts toward the intended degree. ROTC scholarships have separate eligibility and application rules; participation or acceptance at TCNJ does not itself secure a scholarship. Contracting and commissioning can also create military service obligations, so students should review those terms with the relevant ROTC unit before committing.
TCNJ accepts transfer applicants and generally considers credits earned at other accredited colleges. Admission as a transfer student and acceptance of each prior course toward a TCNJ degree are separate decisions.
Applicants should expect to provide official transcripts from colleges attended and should check whether their circumstances also require a high school record. The college reports transfer entry opportunities across fall, winter, spring, and summer, but the available start term can depend on the program and current application schedule. CLEP and DSST/DANTES credit may also be considered under applicable policies. An admitted student should obtain an official credit evaluation and compare it with the intended major's course sequence. This is particularly important for programs with prerequisites, placements, or tightly ordered courses; transferable elective credit may not shorten time to graduation.
TCNJ offers international education opportunities, including study-abroad paths that students can explore with the college's study-abroad advisers. Program length, location, course options, and availability vary.
Students may encounter semester or shorter-term options through institutional arrangements or approved outside providers. Before applying, they should establish how courses will satisfy major, general-education, or elective requirements and obtain the necessary academic approval. The financial comparison also needs to include program charges, travel, insurance, and living expenses. Eligibility to use existing aid can depend on the program and enrollment arrangement, so aid questions should be settled before a student commits to a nonrefundable expense.
20% of admitted students enrolled (1,563 of 7,952)
Regular application deadline
February 1Application fee
$65Early Decision
Yes, deadline November 1Early Action
Yes, deadline November 1Median composite SAT score
1260Median composite ACT score
29Percent of students submitting ACT scores
3%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
50%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
Considered but not requiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Considered but not requiredRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Considered but not requiredAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Winter, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.