A region with many kinds of colleges
The Camden area sits inside a large metropolitan area with a dense mix of higher education institutions on both sides of the Delaware River. Students can find community colleges, public universities, private universities, specialized schools and medical and professional programs within a short trip. This article explains the main types and how they differ. It does not rank institutions or recommend any, and it does not try to list every school.
Programs, costs, admission rules and campus locations change often, so anyone making a decision should rely on each institution’s current published information and on state higher education resources.
Community colleges
Community colleges, sometimes called county colleges in New Jersey, offer two-year degrees and shorter certificates. They typically have open admission, meaning that most applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent can enroll, although some programs, such as nursing, may have additional requirements.
What they commonly offer:
- Associate degrees, which can prepare students to enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year school.
- Certificates and workforce programs in fields such as health care, trades and technology. These connect to the broader theme of job training that appears throughout the region’s economic life.
- Developmental and adult education, including English language classes and help finishing a high school credential.
- Lower tuition than most four-year schools, which is a main reason students begin there.
In New Jersey, counties sponsor community colleges, so they are one of the services counties provide, along with oversight by a board of trustees. Camden County College is an example in the region. Many community colleges have formal transfer agreements with state universities, and the state has worked to make credits easier to move between schools. Students should still confirm in advance which courses will count.
Public four-year universities
State universities are funded in part by public money and governed by boards, with tuition that is generally lower for in-state residents. They award bachelor’s degrees and often graduate degrees, and many conduct research.
In the region, Rutgers University has a campus in Camden, part of the statewide Rutgers system, and Rowan University is based in Glassboro in Gloucester County with a presence in Camden as well, including medical education. Other public institutions operate elsewhere in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Because Pennsylvania and New Jersey set their own policies, tuition and residency rules differ depending on the state.
Characteristics of the type:
- a wide range of majors and professional programs
- on-campus housing and student life at many campuses
- admission standards that vary by school and program
- graduate and professional schools such as law, medicine or education at some institutions
Private colleges and universities
Private institutions are governed by their own boards and funded mainly by tuition, gifts and endowment. They may be nonprofit or, less often, for-profit. The Philadelphia side of the river has many well-known private universities, and there are others across South Jersey.
Private schools can differ greatly in size, cost and focus. Some are large research universities, some are small liberal arts colleges and some are tied to a religious tradition. Published tuition is often much higher than at public schools, but many offer financial aid, so the price students actually pay can differ from the sticker price. It is worth looking at each school’s net price calculator.
Specialized and career-focused schools
Beyond those three groups, the region includes:
- Technical and vocational schools offering programs in the trades, cosmetology, health support and similar fields. These may award certificates or diplomas rather than degrees.
- Art, music and design schools, usually small and private.
- Medical, law and graduate professional schools, which can be part of a university or independent.
- For-profit career colleges. Quality varies, so students are generally encouraged to check accreditation and outcomes before enrolling.
Accreditation and credits
In the United States, accreditation is a form of external review of a school’s quality. Regional accreditors cover most traditional colleges, and credits from accredited schools are generally easier to transfer. Attending an unaccredited school can limit access to federal financial aid and make it harder to transfer or to qualify for some licenses. The U.S. Department of Education publishes information on recognized accreditors.
Practical considerations
When comparing types of schools, students and families often weigh:
- Cost and aid. Look at total cost, including housing and fees, and complete the federal financial aid application, which most schools use for aid decisions.
- Distance and commuting. In a metropolitan area, getting to campus by transit or car matters. Public transportation options vary by campus.
- Pathway. A two-year start followed by transfer is one route, a four-year school from the start is another, and a direct career program is a third.
- Support services. Advising, tutoring and career services differ and can matter for first-generation students.
- Outcomes. Graduation and job-placement information is published by schools and by federal and state sources, though the figures should be read carefully.
How the colleges relate to the city
Colleges and hospitals are among the larger institutions in many older cities, and their role in a local economy, from employment to real estate to student life, is often debated. Residents and officials hold different views about how institutions should partner with their neighbors. For the earlier stages of schooling, the K-12 picture is separate and is covered in the overview of the education system in Camden.
Readers should treat this as a general introduction and check current details with the schools themselves and with the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.