Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Computer Support Specialists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Atlantic Cape, Ocean County College, Passaic County Community College, and Bergen Community College.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider New Jersey City University, Fairleigh Dickinson - Metropolitan, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Kean.
- Female: For schools particularly welcoming to female students, consider College of Saint Elizabeth and Georgian Court University.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Bloomfield, Saint Peter's College, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Felician.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider College of Saint Elizabeth, Drew, Caldwell College, and Fairleigh Dickinson - Metropolitan.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Drew, Seton Hall, Centenary, and Rider University.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Drew, The College of New Jersey, Ramapo College of New Jersey, and Fairleigh Dickinson Florham.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at Stevens Institute of Technology, The College of New Jersey, Rutgers, and Drew.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at New Jersey City University, The College of New Jersey, Montclair State, and Saint Peter's College.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Drew, Saint Peter's College, Felician, and Seton Hall.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Thomas Edison State College • Trenton, NJ
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2009)
• 10/16/2011
"I am very satisfied with the education I received at Thomas Edison State College. The school bent over backwards to make sure I wouldn't have to take a lot of unnecessary courses, and everyone I dealt with was friendly and helpful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would absolutely recommend Thomas Edison State College to anyone interested in a career in Computer Science. The program is flexible, practical and well worth the cost. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Thomas Edison State College has a good program in computer science, especially for mature students like myself; however, it's not MIT or Stanford to be sure, which is why I didn't give it a 10. The program, however, is challenging and warrants at least a 5 rating. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I'm a former US veteran who worked in electronics in the US Air Force. Thomas Edison State College factored in my military training when determining what courses I needed to take in order to graduate; hence, my course of study was greatly reduced and far less expensive than it might have been. |
| Instruction | 9 | The courses I took were great. I learned a lot from them and aced them. They were just what I needed in terms of career preparation and I use the content of those courses nearly every day on the job. |
| How Difficult | 8 | My academic work was challenging, but not too challenging the way a physics or engineering major would be. Because I had prior work experience in my subject area, I was able to do well. The workload was passable -- not overwhelming, but hardly easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There was a 50/50 mix of hands-on versus book learning in my courses. I liked that, because I'm a practical person who learns more by doing than by reading. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I was able to take the courses I needed online, so there was a lot of flexibility in my scheduling. The courses I needed were offered year-round, so there was no problem in registering for them when I needed them. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | I found the professors and academic advisors to be extremely accessible and helpful. Because I was a distance learning student, I didn't use the library, labs, classrooms, etc. |
| Social Life | 5 | As an online student, I didn't participate in any social experiences. However, it looked like Thomas Edison State College had a lot of activities for students who were on campus. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Thomas Edison State College does a great job with career services, especially for students who want to work in NJ. I'm in NY and haven't found their career services to be quite as helpful for those of us who are located out of state. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Thomas Edison State College offers its graduates a lot of support. I enjoy receiving their alumni mailings, and they have a lot of online resources (like job listings) for alumni. My program was online, so I never got to know my classmates; hence, I'm not interested in alumni networking. |
Brookdale Community College • Lincroft, NJ
Studying Computer Science (Never Finished), Cisco And MCSE Courses (completion in 2004)
• 11/25/2011
"I wish I would have gone to a 4-year school. I would strongly suggest a different one; perhaps a university."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | It was terrible for my area of study. Go to Chubb or a 4-year university. |
| Program Reputation | 2 | It's a community college, so it doesn't have a great reputation. |
| Program Quality | 5 | My school was mediocre; all of them are, as real-world training is the only beneficial thing. |
| Instruction | 6 | My instructor was excellent. However, he could not compare to hands-on experience. |
| How Difficult | 3 | I came from a computer science background. Started working with DOS when I was 6. This is the easiest subject in the world for me. Even Linux comes fairly easy. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Mostly taught directly from a book. Hands on was lacking. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Classes at all times, day and night. The professors were forgiving as well. |
| Academic Facilities | 6 | They had available access to all the necessary resources. I had used the laboratories a few times during my schooling. |
| Social Life | 1 | It was a two-year institution. I did not socialize much. |
| Placement Services | I never attempted to be placed by my school. | |
| Alumni Network | Never engaged in alumni activities. Perhaps involvement would have made my career more pleasing. |
Stevens Institute Of Technology • Hoboken, NJ
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2000)
• 1/11/2012
"Core classes are very strong, which essentially gives you the tools to prepare yourself for anything in the field. However, they trail behind the cutting edge of technology so you come to the workplace needing to catch up."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Although you will not have the knowledge of the latest technologies, you will be given the skill set to learn it yourself when needed. It is a demanding workload but worth it. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | It's a well-known local school affiliated with NYU. Unfortunately it's not known well nationally. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The program is very demanding and teaches good fundamentals. Unfortunately, not enough time is spent concentrating on real world situations/problems, industry standards etc. |
| Instruction | 8 | Core courses are demanding and strong. Hands-on experience and are labs good as well. Everything is a bit out of touch with real-world situations. |
| How Difficult | 8 | There are core engineering courses even in the CS program. The credit load is higher than in other comparable programs. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There is a satisfactory amount of labs and hands on experience. Unfortunately, it is hard to relate it to real world. Everything is a bit dated and it's trailing behind technological advancements. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The schedule is very concentrated on day/full-time classes. There are limited options for evening classes, except for the MBA program. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | Labs are a little dated, but functional. Cutting edge technologies are not implemented immediately. It is second-tier in that respect. |
| Social Life | 3 | The school is close to NYC and that is a big benefit. Athletics are poor, parties were infrequent and social events were rare. |
| Placement Services | 6 | Career fairs are pretty standard. Employers are mostly looking to fill engineering positions in New Jersey. |
| Alumni Network | 4 | I haven't talked to or been in touch with any alumni. The school is mostly engineering, so maybe Computer Science support is weaker. |
New Jersey Institute Of Technology • Newark, NJ
Studying Information Systems (completion in 2011)
• 1/17/2012
"I am very satisfied with my school. I was able to learn a lot. I was also able to meet a lot of great people. I believe going to NJIT helped me get the job I have today."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend this school to others because the point of college is to learn a lot and get a good job. This is what I did. I would recommend joining a greek organization, otherwise you wont get the most out of your school socially. Of course you want to stay focused, but it is great to have a network and get involved as well. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | When it comes to technology and engineering, I think NJIT has a very good reputation. Everybody that knows I went there automatically assumes I am smart. As far as NJ goes, I would think that it is the best University for Technology and Engineering. |
| Program Quality | 9 | My school prepared me with a number of different skills that will allow me to enter many different jobs in the IT field. Rather than focusing on one skill, I was able to learn programming, hardware, networking, and db administration. |
| Instruction | 9 | As stated before, my curriculum wasn't just focused on one general area. I think this helped me most when looking for a job. The administration was also very helpful with their teaching and guiding of my future. |
| How Difficult | 7 | I would say every course was very fast paced. That being said, if you are willing to put in the hours each day and study, you should be fine. The math program was by far the hardest. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Many classes will be mostly hands on. Your homework will consist of you having to read the book and answer questions. Some classes had labs where you would work on specific projects, whether they be writing programs or creating databases. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Some classes were scheduled many times throughout the week and I wouldn't have a problem finding a class that fit my schedule. Others would only be offered once a semester at times that weren't very conventional, especially considering its the only chance to take the class. ex. Saturday Morning only. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | There were computers everywhere. WiFi covered the entire campus. The library was filled with computers and plenty of quiet space to go study. |
| Social Life | 3 | The average student at NJIT is a commuter. The commuters usually just attend class and leave. This is what I did for 3 years there. It wasn't until I became greek that I was really involved. Greeks are the only ones that really get involved with events on campus. Outside of that, the social aspect is really lacking. |
| Placement Services | I never went to career services for my school. If I hadn't found a job when I did, I probably would have wound up checking into this. | |
| Alumni Network | I never really reached out to the alumni network at NJIT. I did reach out to my fraternity network when looking for a job. I was able to find my current job through a brother. |
Burlington County College • Pemberton, NJ
Studying Computers (completion in 2010)
• 2/9/2012
"I am satisfied with the information I learned and the degree I acquired. Overall, I feel that my post-graduation success has been the outcome of my own sheer determination."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | Having attending such an affordable school, there are both pros and cons. Fiscally, it is the most you can do with minimal funds. On the other hand, some of the substance is lacking, due to this fact. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | I believe we have a fair reputation. As we are not your traditional/typical university, it is hard to categorize the specifics, yet I feel we hold our own against said colleges. |
| Program Quality | 8 | We had state-of-the-art facilities and up-to-date software at a price that was very affordable. This afforded the opportunity for individuals of diverse statuses and backgrounds to learn. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instructors were quite qualified and helpful, yet I feel that they did not adequately prepare us to enter the workforce. Although the technical information was there, I felt that the practical knowledge was lacking. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I felt that the program was a little too easy. Some of the technical information was difficult, but overall, I felt that it was a little too relaxed. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I felt that they were very "by the book." While this information is much needed and the foundation to a successful career, I felt that I had to do a lot of self-teaching beyond graduation. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | There are many options for students. They offer classes at various campuses during various weekdays/weekends. There are morning, afternoon and evening classes, in addition to online classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | I was thoroughly satisfied with the resources and facilities. There are open lab hours, free tutors, helpful teachers and advisors, and group support. |
| Social Life | 8 | I feel that they really do put a lot of time and effort into making a community college feel more like a traditional university. There are many events and outings that they organize, and there are a variety of ways to be involved. |
| Placement Services | 2 | There was little to no job placement assistance. Beyond graduation, there was little contact and an overall lack of assistance. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I am not a member of the alumni association; I do not believe that we have such a program. If the school has an alumni association, I have not received any information about it. |
Rowan University • Glassboro, NJ
Studying Electrical/Computer Engineering (completion in 2005)
• 3/13/2012
"It was a great school with a solid backing of the engineering programs. Four branches of engineering were available & all received due attention."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It was a great hands-on experience, which was the single biggest factor in my success to date. Without my projects and internships provided by the school, I do not believe I would be where I am today. |
| Program Reputation | 9 | The university has been growing as a whole for over a decade now. The Engineering program has made great strides in both content and job placement for the students involved. I have suggested the university/major to many friends/associates who have expressed interest in computers. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The Engineering program was relatively new during my time at Rowan U. I was able to partake in multiple internships, including flying on NASA aircraft. Although the time spent at Rowan U was fantastic, I'm sure it's even more developed now. |
| Instruction | 8 | Real world applications and internships were a huge help in preparation for my career. I believe this was the single most important thing I did in college. |
| How Difficult | 10 | 19+ credits per semester while working two jobs left very little time for anything else. The course material was difficult to begin with, but manageable with appropriate time management. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had real-world applications through internships and projects offered by companies such as NASA and Microsoft. It offered a fantastic experience for a student such as myself. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 9 | Each semester I was able to create my own schedule with both morning and evening classes. I was even able to schedule a day off during the spring semester most years. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | They had a dedicated Engineering building which was only a few years old and contained state of the art equipment, computers, labs. Advisors and professors were experienced in their fields and offered great insight into the industry. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not partake in many parties or events as I was busy enough working and preparing for class. |
| Placement Services | 7 | Although I did not find a job immediately after graduation, I was able to land a solid job semi-related to my field. After many years of hard work, I feel my degree has finally paid off. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do not live near my college, and do not take part in any of the school's alumni or support networks. |
Rutgers University • New Brunswick, NJ
Studying Computer Engineering (completion in 1996)
• 3/30/2012
"It was a decent education for good price."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Go to NJIT or other technical schools instead. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Rutgers is famous but not prestigious as an Ivy. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Rutgers has a decent program at a good price. |
| Instruction | 3 | The curriculum is hard. Rutgers weeds out weaker students. |
| How Difficult | 7 | Engineering is tough, hard work is required. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was all textbook learning. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | You can schedule your own time. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Rutgers has nice dorms and new buildings. |
| Social Life | 8 | Rutgers is a party school and provides the "typical" college experience. |
| Placement Services | 5 | Typical Rutgers students won't land a job. I was able to because of my engineering training. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | Rutgers is huge and has a good network. |
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