Montclair State University

<h4 id="section---Pros"> Pros</h4> <ul><li>Nationally ranked in the top 100 regional, northern universities </li><li>Student cohort default rate is 7.2 percentage points lower than the national average </li></ul><h4 id="section---Cons"> Cons</h4> <ul><li>Acceptance rate is 8.8 percentage points lower than the national average </li><li>Total cost is $9,406 higher than at comparable universities </li><li>4-year graduation rate is five percentage points lower than average of 40% </li></ul><h3 id="section---MontclairStateUniversityAtAGlance"> Montclair State University at a Glance</h3> <p>Montclair State University enrolls over 18,000 students in its six colleges and schools. The six main colleges include education and human services, math and science, social studies and humanities, business, arts and a graduate school. The school also offers a theatre, a 24-hour diner and the Harry A. Sprague Library. Located in Montclair, NJ, you'll have reasonably easy access to New York City and several national and international airports. </p> <p>Of regional Northern universities, <i>U.S. News and World Report</i> ranked MSU at # 54 in 2014. The school was also ranked #11 among top public schools in the region and #17 among best colleges for veterans by the publication. </p> <p>While the national average college acceptance rate for applicants was 63.8% in 2012, the rate at Montclair State University was lower at 55%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Also according to NCES, the university has a higher-than-average tuition. In its 2012-2013 school year, the total cost to attend MSU (including tuition, fees, room and board) was $27,266, which is higher than the average of $17,860 for public schools. However, only 6.2% of students defaulted on their loans in 2009, which is less than the average of 13.4%. </p> <h2 id="section---GettingInFinancialAidAtMontclairStateUniversity"> Getting In &amp; Financial Aid at Montclair State University</h2> <p>If you want to enroll as an undergraduate, you should submit an application, fee, high school transcript, letter of recommendation, SAT and/or ACT scores and a personal statement. General requirements typically include a high school GPA of 3.0 or greater and a combined SAT score of 1425 or ACT composite score of 20. Other applicants may be considered on a case-by-case basis. As a graduate applicant, you must also submit your transcripts from all previous institutions, a personal statement and multiple letters of recommendation. </p> <p>MSU's Office of Student Financial Aid will assist you in applying for various forms of financial aid, including loans, grants, scholarships and work-study opportunities. If you complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you'll receive a Student Aid Report for federal programs as well as your Student Eligibility Notice for New Jersey Programs advising you of the available student aid opportunities. Montclair State University also provides numerous online resources to help you find the scholarships that apply specifically to your needs. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Application and Tuition Information </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Regular Application Deadline (2013-2014)</i> </td><td> March 1***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Financial Aid Priority Application Deadline (2013-2014)</i> </td><td> March 1***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Notification of Acceptance (2013-2014)</i> </td><td> Varies</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Application Fee (2012-2013)</i> </td><td> $65****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Acceptance Rate (2012)</i> </td><td> 55%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>All Tuition &amp; Living Expenses (2012-2013)</i> </td><td> $27,266 (in-state)<br /> $36,344 (out-of-state)**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average First-Year Financial Aid Package (2012)</i> </td><td> $8,461***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i> </td><td> 6,2%**</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---StudentLifeAtMontclairStateUniversity"> Student Life at Montclair State University</h2> <p>The Montclair State University campus hosts a variety of cultural events, recreational and educational programs and over 100 student clubs and organizations. There are also special programs, including, but not limited to, a Disney College Program and an Honors Program. There's a large campus recreation center as well as numerous events involving everything from music to science to religion. MSU has many athletic teams in various sports that compete in the NCAA Division III. </p> <p>The Center for Career Services and Cooperative Education at MSU provides career counseling and job placement guidance. Services include job fairs, workshops, internships, interest testing, online tools and individual counseling. As a student, you'll have access to these resources during office hours and 24 hours a day on the Web. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Student Life Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Setting</i> </td><td> Large suburb**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Population (2012)</i> </td><td> 18,382**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2012)</i> </td><td> 39:61**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Full Time Students (2012)</i> </td><td> 86%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of In-state Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 96%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of International Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 0%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Retention Rate (2011-2012)</i> </td><td> 81%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Housing Available</i> </td><td> Yes*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Students Living on Campus</i> </td><td> 59% (first-year), 30% (overall)***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Number of Libraries</i> </td><td> One*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Extracurricular Activities</i> </td><td> 156 clubs and organizations****</td></tr> </table><p><i>Article Sources: * Montclair State University, **NCES College Navigator, ***College Board, ****U.S. News &amp; World Report</i> </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolContactInfo"> School Contact Info</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> Montclair State University, Undergraduate Admissions, College Hall, Room 100, One Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07043 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> (973) 655-4444</li></ul>