University Announces Tuition and Fees

The Board of Trustees at Montclair State University has set tuition and fee rates for the 2026-2027 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 $17,810 per year for in-state, full-time undergraduate students, an increase of $478 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 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.

This year’s tuition will still allow 30% of students to continue to see all of their tuition and fees covered. An additional 45% will pay less than $10,000. Just 22% – who are not eligible for income-based assistance – will pay the full cost.

According to The Wall Street Journal’s annual Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, which rate Montclair as a Top 30 public institution and the No. 1 public in New Jersey, the salary boost for a typical Montclair graduate – more than $34,000 – covers their out-of-pocket cost of attending in less than two years.

The University also remains a national leader in social mobility, further showcasing how Montclair’s unique combination of accessible excellence is preparing students for financial success.

"Increasing tuition is something we deeply struggle with—there is nothing we take more seriously than the total cost of attendance and its impact on accessibility," says Montclair President Jonathan Koppell. "While the vast majority of this increase directly supports our core operating costs and employee compensation, every dollar goes toward delivering the high-quality education our students deserve. We recognize the immense sacrifice families are making, and we honor it by remaining the most efficient public university in New Jersey and serving as careful stewards of our budget. Even as we expand financial aid to record levels, we know we must do a better job explaining the realities of these costs and proving why this investment is worth it."

The Board of Trustees also set tuition and fees for out-of-state undergraduates at $29,146 per year, an increase of $788 per semester. Most master’s degree students will pay $23,976 per year, an increase of $653 per semester.

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