Can’t decide between TCNJ (The College of New Jersey) and SUNY Binghamton as a business major from New Jersey. I was originally dead set on Binghamton because of its high rankings, credibility and the fact that it was further away from home, not to mention the beautiful area. However, after visiting TCNJ and absolutely loving the vibe and environment of the campus, I’m having difficulty choosing. Opinions? Help!!!
TCNJ all the way. Yes the campus has come a long way and now Campus Town is open?
TCNJ is the most competitive public school for admissions in the east and the business program is really outstanding.
Yes @ScaredNJDad1 I’m in love with the campus town! So many great shops on campus.
That was genius. Rowan did the same and Villanova is doing that as well.
Both SUNY Binghamton and TCNJ would be excellent choices are would be considered to be peer universities. So I would visit both campuses and go to the school that feels like the right fit.
Which comes out to be less expensive? Both are great options.
These schools may be roughly equivalent academically, however, some statistical differences should be noted: 1) When schools are ranked by standardized test scores, 83 places separate Binghamton (106) from TCNJ (189) and 2) Binghamton’s business curriculum is recognized as a “top program” by USNWR, a distinction TCNJ currently lacks. That said, collegekid, these schools may be just close enough academically that you can responsibly choose based on general preference.
@merc81 Based on data from which years? A lot has changed at TCNJ. TCNJ ranks 20th nationally in Accounting on one survey.
In the Bloomberg survey TCNJ was 63rd in 2014 and Binghamton was in the mid-50s.
@ScaredNJDad1: The fall 2014 entering classes appeared as follows for the schools in terms of their middle-range SATs:
Binghamton: 1210-1370
TCNJ: 1120-1310
(More recent data may not be standardized.)
Surveys beyond those offered by USNWR can certainly provide additional insight.
(Standardized score rankings (#6) from “The 610 Smartest Colleges,” Business Insider.)
Any other choices??
Do you have a budget?
@rebeccar @newjerseygirl98 TCNJ comes out to be a bit cheaper just because it is in state, but Binghamton’s out of state prices are relatively low so they come out to be almost the same so that is not an issue. @LBad96 I’ve also been accepted to SUNY Albany (and the honors college) and UDel but I am not leaning towards those.
The cost difference over 4 years is not small, about $30k assuming the OP did not receive any merit money, which could make the difference twice that amount. Need-based aid would certainly be better at TCNJ.
Also, @collegekid123457, you refer to the area around SUNY Binghamton as beautiful. Most would not characterize the area that way, but it certainly isn’t terrible. Before you decide it may be worthwhile to revisit.
@ScaredNJDad1 Regarding the area, I was speaking of the nature reserve on campus and such!
Hey did you get any type of merit award from TCNJ?
its no secret I am a big supporter of TCNJ especially biz and finance if you can get into that major. It’s a terrific program. Having said that, so is Binghamton. I think there is a difference in size and student to teacher ratio being
in favor of TCNJ. But it really comes down to personal preference. You can’t go wrong either way.
You may also want to contact career placement and see where students from the b-school end up working. My S who is at a Big 4 firm in NYC has seen people from SUNY-Binghamton but none from TCNJ. My D’s freind who went to b-school at TCNJ ended up working at a company in NJ. This is admittedly a tiny and 100% unscientific sample, but it is possible that TCNJ students are primarily recruited for NJ offices/firms (rather than NYC). That may be fine, even preferable for you, I don’t know…but if your goal is to end up in NYC, where graduates get jobs seems like a question that is worth researching with career placement at both schools.
Bottom line is both are very good and similar schools so if they are both affordable, go with your personal preference.
I’d say TCNJ, to save the $30,000. It’s up to you, though, see which school you prefer.
@happy1 That was one of my concerns- Is TCNJ well known and respected enough?
Equal reputation in the NY area, but TCNJ’s reputation is rising.
If you wanted to compare Fordham, Villanova, Bucknell or Lehigh to TCNJ, then TCNJ has a little work to do.