The College of New Jersey’s School of Business landed at No. 79 in this year’s rankings, dropping from last year’s 61st place and 34th the year before that, largely because of drops in the admissions standards and academic experience categories. The B-school had an acceptance rate of 65.97%, up from last year’s 51.20% and the previous year’s 44%; average SAT score for the class entering fall 2021 was 1231, up slightly from last year’s 1223 and down from the previous year’s 1260.
Employment outcomes jumped to 81.91%, up from last year’s 70.21% and the previous year’s 71.28%. Internship placements, on the other hand, decreased significantly to 33% of the Class of 2021 landing a business-focused internship before graduation, much lower than last year’s 84% and the previous year’s 80%.
The TCNJ education is best described as a toolbox. From its hallmark signature experiences and strong faculty support to unique research and experiential opportunities, TCNJ students are given the building blocks to set out and make their own mark on the world.
DNA OF TCNJ: FIVE SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES
At the core of the TCNJ education is what the B-school calls its Five Signature Experiences: personalized, collaborative, and rigorous education; undergraduate research, mentored internships, and field experiences; community-engaged learning; global engagement; and leadership development.
All TCNJ undergraduates go through each of these experiences within their four years in the program. The objective of the signature experiences is to help students discover their goals and develop the technical and soft skills necessary to achieve those goals. The benefit of the Five Signature Experiences is that students are given a comprehensive education that incorporates every aspect of business to prepare students for the real world. By the time they graduate, TCNJ students are well-versed in all areas from research to leadership.
STRONG FACULTY SUPPORT
TCNJ offers a fairly simple and straightforward curriculum. Undergraduate students can choose from four majors: a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Economics. The Business Administration degree offers additional specializations in Finance, Interdisciplinary Business, Management, and Marketing.
While TCNJ lacks the shiny and cutting-edge curriculum offerings of other B-schools, it does ensure that each and every student receives quality support and mentorship. This is a key differentiating factor of TCNJ and goes hand in hand with its hallmark Five Signature Experiences offering. As students go through each experience, faculty and staff are there to enhance their intellectual curiosity and guide their development.
Surveyed 2018 alumni gave TCNJ faculty a strong 9.0 average rating in terms of availability for informal discussions and mentoring outside of class. Additionally, classes are often discussion-based with an average class size capped at just 25 students.
“I conducted a research and performance study on the valuation of Mortgage and Asset-Backed Securities under the guidance of Dr. Herbert Mayo, a professor I have always looked up to for his teaching and publications,” one 2018 alumni told us. “This experience not only helped to bridge my academic experience with more real-world applications, but he also invited me to join the College’s Student Investment Fund. These opportunities made a huge impact on my college experience, solidifying my goals when assessing what kind of career I hoped to earn in Finance.”
Other B-schools may offer more specialized degrees, but at TCNJ, students are given the proper guidance and attention from faculty, which can play a large role in helping them discover their passions and achieve their career goals.
VARIETY OF REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITIES
TCNJ students have a variety of opportunities to discover their interests and gain valuable real-world experience. Surveyed 2018 alumni highlighted a number of experiences that they say were valuable in helping them succeed in their careers.
“Working with a novice business management company, myself, along with 4 other students, used a real tool to evaluate and guide the management of a local business,” one 2018 alumni told us. “In addition to learning about launching a new company, it also assisted the local economy as they received this management advice for no cost. This business-based relationship helped establish early, vital business etiquette and expectations which helped me grow as well.”
“Senior thesis in economics allowed me to analyze a project I was interested in over 2 semesters,” another 2018 said. “I received exceptional faculty support.”
“Doing Business In China course-traveled with the class to China to experience firsthand how business is conducted in China,” said another. “We toured businesses in several industries and completed market research for a major toy manufacturer.”
While a capstone project is often the singular “signature experience” at many B-schools, at TCNJ, the signature experiences are expansive and diverse. Whether it’s consulting a local business, diving into a research topic, or touring a real business, TCNJ students have a variety of opportunities to learn business from a real-world perspective.
Overall, if you’re looking for a specialized or expansive curriculum, TCNJ probably isn’t the right fit for you. But what the B-school does offer that many others can’t is a commitment to your development throughout your education. With its strong faculty support and hallmark signature experiences, TCNJ will be right beside you as you embark on your business journey.
Alumni say:
“I engaged in a networking event in NYC with a panel of alumni from distinguished universities. The unique opportunity provided a network to learn outside of the classroom.”
“I was also a member of the Honors College at The College of New Jersey, which allowed me to submit an additional thesis project on top of the two capstones traditionally completed by Business students in my major (Finance and Management).”
“As part of my senior project, we had to put a price tag on a privately held business using a few different methods, and write a 30 page paper on it. I thought it was a really strategy for taking me through all the different finances of a business.”
“I took the Cross-Cultural Management course that was equally informative and engaging. It is a course that has given me information that is relevant in society and the business world today.”
“The National Investment Banking Competition and my Independent Research Project helped me develop as a person, gain insight into different industries, and grow my network.”
Where the Class of 2020 Went to Work:
- JPMorgan Chase – 8
- Merck – 7
- PwC – 7
- AT&T – 6
- EisnerAmper – 6
- KPMG – 6
- Amazon – 5
- Deloitte – 5
- EY – 5
- Johnson & Johnson – 5
