New Jersey College Named #4 ‘Best Bang for the Buck’

the Going to college can be a fun time, but it can also be very stressful. On top of worrying about getting good grades and picking the right career path, students often have to worry about expenses. Going to an affordable school can make a huge difference for students. It can also make a big difference for parents who might be helping to pay for school. Well, one New Jersey college has been named the No. 1 best "bang for your buck" in the Northeast.

The new ranking comes from the Washington Monthly. It's called their "America's Best Bang for the Buck Colleges," and its their "exclusive list of schools ranked according to how well they help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices—grouped by region." They added that, "The list is created by isolating the social mobility metrics from the main rankings of four-year institutions."

For more methodology, the Washington Monthly began with the "1,586 colleges in the 50 states that are listed in the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and have a 2021 Carnegie basic classification of doctoral, master’s, and baccalaureate colleges, are not exclusively graduate colleges, participate in federal financial aid programs, and had not announced an impending closure as of June 1, 2023." They also excluded certain colleges based on criteria. Also, find the full methodology here.

Looking at the Northeast, MA Maritime Academy in Massachusetts is No. 1, followed by University of Pennsylvania at No. 2. Then, there's the MA Institute of Technology in Massachusetts at No. 3. New Jersey's Princeton University is at No. 4, which is a great spot. New Jersey is also at No. 10 with Rutgers University–Newark. Also, New Jersey Institute of Tech. is No. 24. Moreover, find the full tally of schools with the best bang for your buck here.

There are some major benefits to taking a trip by yourself. The solitude gives you time to clear your mind and gather your thoughts. And it also enables you to create your own schedule, taking in the sights you set out for. Good Housekeeping published a report that details America’s best places for solo travel, and New Jersey was all over this list.

In addition, Fifty Grande recently conducted a solo travel survey. They found that “52% of respondents said they planned to take a solo trip before the end of the year, and 64% of them planned to take that trip in America.” Furthermore, they found that 40% of those that participated in their survey answered “10” on a scale of 1-10 on how comfortable they were to travel alone. 83% said answered a 7 or above.

Other interesting items to note were 89% of the people had already taken a solo trip. The main reason was to “explore a new place and/or immerse in a local culture.” 22.9% said they traveled alone because it was “more fun when I’m 100% in control.”

Moreover, 52% of people plan on traveling solo before the end of the year. Much of that will be within the United States, Fifty Grande shows.

New Jersey is filled with areas that are prime for solo travel exploring. Of course, Atlantic City has a major nightlife scene. There are pristine golf courses all throughout the state, some of which are in close proximity to New York City (if you want to head in for dinner or a show). Finally, there are miles of beachside attractions along the Atlantic and historic sites deep in the heart of the Garden State. So, let's take a look at the two New Jersey destinations that were named best for solo travel. They happen to over a hundred and thirty miles away from each other, and vastly different in terms of what you can explore there.

Home to the Ivy League Tigers, Good Housekeeping calls out the historic sites this central New Jersey town house to offer. "Princeton Battle Monument honors the battle fought and won by George Washington in 1777." The University Art Museum and the Morven Museum and Garden often attract tourists from all over the world. Lastly, Carnegie Lake is one of the most serene spots in the state.

"Spend your day wandering the cute shops, sunbathing at the beach or climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Pointe State Park," Good Housekeeping suggest. Cape May draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. It's very common that you will find families, couples, and solo travelers among them. In addition to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the east coast, you can visit winery's, theaters, safaris, or just rest along the shore of the beautiful beaches.