Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ
U.S. News 2026 National Universities rank: #80
Stevens is a technology-focused research university in Hoboken, New Jersey, sitting directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan, with several campus buildings offering unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline. Founded in 1868 through a bequest from Edwin A. Stevens, it was the first college in the United States dedicated solely to mechanical engineering, and engineering, computer science, and quantitative finance remain its strongest programs. Undergraduates most commonly major in computer science, mechanical engineering, and business and technology. A distinguishing feature is the school's long-running cooperative education program, which lets students alternate paid, major-related work terms with study over a five-year track instead of the usual four. Class sections tend to be small: roughly a third have fewer than 20 students, and the student-to-faculty ratio is about 11 to 1. Research strengths include maritime engineering, run out of the Davidson Laboratory and its 313-foot wave tank, along with systems engineering, cybersecurity, and financial technology. The school fields 23 NCAA Division III varsity teams and has no football program. Stevens suits students who want an engineering- and business-heavy curriculum with fast access to New York City internships and recruiting, rather than a large-campus or liberal-arts-first experience.
Key figures
- Acceptance Rate (Overall): 47.6%
- Average Net Price (Federal Aid Recipients): $41,346
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 86.9%
- Median Starting Salary: $83,442
- Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,222
- SAT Middle 50% (composite midpoint): 1446
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 11