An act passed by legislators in Essex County, New Jersey, in 1880, established schools of industrial education in Hoboken, Newark and Trenton. The Newark Technical School opened in February 1885 to 88 students who managed to travel to the school despite a blizzard that struck the area that day. Initially, the school held classes on West Park Avenue in a building rented by school officials. Most of the students were working adults who attended at night.
In 1886, money was raised to build a separate campus for the school and a cornerstone was laid at the corner of Summit Place and High Street, which would later be known as Weston Hall, named after Edward Weston, an industrialist in the area. In 1913, the library was completed, named Colton Hall in honor of the first president of the school.
During the Great Depression and the World Wars, the school struggled due to low enrollment. However, the school was able to purchase the nearby Newark Orphan Asylum which became Eberhardt Hall. Like other colleges, enrollment exploded after World War II and the passage of the GI Bill. In fact, 75 percent of the freshman class in 1946 were veterans.
In 1949, the school became the Newark College of Engineering. The original Weston hall was demolished and 1958, but was replaced with the building that stands today. When the New Jersey School of Architecture joined the college in 1973, the school was renamed the New Jersey Institute of Technology in order to better reflect the technological programs offered at the school.
New Jersey Institute of Technology was ranked first by Buzzfeed as one of the best colleges for higher education value. PayScale.com ranked the school in the top one percent of college and universities for the return students get on their investment. The school is ranked in the top ten percent nationally for its value and US News & World Report lists New Jersey Institute of Technology as a top national university.
Today, there are 11,325 students enrolled at New Jersey Institute of Technology. The school spends more than $110 million on research, resulting in 203 U.S. patents and 76 pending U.S. patents as of 2015.
New Jersey Institute of Technology Accreditation Details
New Jersey Institute of Technology is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Accreditation indicates that the school meets or exceeds criteria set forth by the accrediting agency that demonstrate excellence in education. In addition, the following industry-specific organizations also accredit programs at the school:
- Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET)
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB)
New Jersey Institute of Technology Application Process
Freshman applicants to the New Jersey Institute of Technology must complete the Common Application as well as official high school transcripts and a letter of recommendation. It is important to note that the student's entire record is used as criteria for admission, especially grades in math, science and English. Students must provide official SAT or ACT scores and applicants should be in the top 30 percentile of their graduating class. Students who wish to attend Architecture, Digital Design, Industrial Design or Interior Design must submit a portfolio of creative work.
Students who have completed at least 15 semester hours of college credit at another college or university may apply as transfer students to the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Transferred credits must include English composition, mathematics, which should include pre-calculus, and science, including chemistry or physics. Students must also have a minimum GPA of 2.0 to transfer into the school, although some programs require a GPA of 2.5. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be provided.
Students who wish to apply for graduate programs at the New Jersey Institute of Technology must have an undergraduate degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.8. GRE scores for most programs or GMAT scores for business-related programs, are required. Students must also provide one letter of recommendation in a sealed envelope. Doctorate candidates must have an appropriate academic background and a GPA of 3.5 or higher in all other degree programs. Students are required to submit GRE scores for doctoral programs along with three letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition at the New Jersey Institute of Technology is $668 per credit hour for in-state residents and $1,339 for out-of-state residents. Graduate tuition is $1,162 per credit hour for in-state residents and $1,600 for out-of-state residents.
Financial aid is available in the form of scholarships, grants, loans and work-study. The average undergraduate award in 2013 was $16,356 and more than 72 percent of students received a financial aid packet. In order to qualify for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Online Degree Programs
Online Master of Science in Computer Science
The Master of Science in Computer Science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology provides students with the skills and knowledge to take the world in imaginative new directions. The program has been ranked by Forbes Magazine as the fourth best Master's Degree for Jobs in 2013. The program is designed for working professionals who are employed in the field of computer science. Students develop new computer skills, critical thinking ability and targeted knowledge. Students may choose to specialize their studies in Databases and Data Mining or Networking. The program prepares students to become leaders in an increasingly technology-dependent world. The program is offered in a completely online format.
What Careers Are Available With A Masters Degree In Computer Science?
Online Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
The Master of Science in Electrical Engineering program provides students with the skills necessary in the increasingly necessary field of electrical engineering. Students learn the latest concepts in electrical engineering through a 30-credit program that can be completed in less than two years in a completely online format. Students may choose to specialize their studies in Communications, Signal Processing, Microwave, Power and Energy Systems or Mechatronics.
Online Master of Science in Civil Engineering
The 30-credit hour Master of Science in Civil Engineering through the New Jersey Institute of Technology prepares graduates to lead teams in planning, designing, constructing and operating infrastructure that is critical to modern life. Students develop enhanced decision-making skills and how to justify decisions using managerial data. Students learn modern management techniques and how to successfully leverage tools to maximize the efficiency of their department or company. The program is offered entirely online so that working adults are able to complete their studies in a flexible format.
The online programs offered by the New Jersey Institute of Technology allow working adults to achieve their higher education goals. Through the flexible online programming at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, adults who have work, family and social obligations that may make it difficult for them to attend traditional classrooms are able to move into a new career or advance in a current career.