New Jersey Colleges & Universities
Top college and university libraries in New Jersey
These college and university libraries stand out for their collections, special collections and archives. Public access varies, so each entry says how visitors can use the library.
Princeton University LibraryPrinceton University
Firestone Library, the main building of the Princeton University Library, opened in 1948 as the first large American university library constructed after World War II. With more than 70 miles of bookshelves, it is one of the largest open-stack libraries in existence, and Princeton has more books per enrolled student than any other university in the United States.
Rutgers University LibrariesRutgers University
The Rutgers University Libraries system consists of twenty-six libraries, centers and reading rooms on the university's four campuses. The Archibald S. Alexander Library in New Brunswick, the oldest and largest library of the university, houses an extensive humanities and social science collection and is a Federal Depository Library.
Wright LibraryPrinceton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary's library building was completed in 2013 and renamed on October 13, 2021 for Theodore S. Wright, the first African American to graduate from the seminary. It has over 1,252,503 bound volumes, pamphlets and microfilms and is home to the Center for Barth Studies and the Abraham Kuyper collection of Dutch Reformed Protestantism.
Rose Memorial LibraryDrew University
Built in 1938 with funds donated by Lenox S. Rose, Drew University's Rose Memorial Library houses the university's library collections, offering 558,000 bound volumes, along with a media resource center and learning center. It has been designated a selective depository for U.S. government publications.
Walsh LibrarySeton Hall University
Seton Hall University's $20 million Walsh Library opened in 1994, and its study and research resources marked the beginning of a technological transformation of the university. The university library holds over 500,000 volumes.
The most beautiful college library in New Jersey
Firestone LibraryPrinceton University
Designed by Robert B. O'Connor and Walter H. Kilham Jr., Firestone Library opened in 1948, when roughly 1.5 million volumes were moved from East Pyne Hall. It was expanded in 1971 and again in 1988. The building does not appear very large from the outside, because most of its books are stored in three partially underground levels that extend beyond the footprint of the main building.
Last verified: November 2, 2026. Visitor rules, hours and borrowing policies change, so check the library's website before you go.
About colleges and universities in New Jersey
Another tiny New England state with big educational opportunities, New Jersey is home to a large public research university as well as an Ivy League university. In addition to these well known schools, New Jersey also has nine state universities and colleges within its borders, 14 private universities, 19 community colleges, five seminaries and two religious colleges. It makes for an eclectic state filled with many different educational opportunities, allowing students to find the university or college setting that works best for them and their goals.
Rutgers University is a large research university in New Jersey, and is also known as the largest university in the state. Rutgers was founded in 1766 and was originally called the Queen's College. It is one of the Colonial Colleges, one of only 9 institutions of higher learning in the country that was founded before the American Revolution. Rutgers originally began as a private university that only admitted male students, but it grew to become a public university that was also a co-educational facility. Rutgers, along with the College of William and Mary, is one of only two Colonial Colleges that became a public university after beginning as a private institution of higher learning. With more than 100 degree programs to choose from, Rutgers has many academic programs that are ranked nationally. Some of its most well known degree programs include philosophy, geology, statistics and art history, among several others. Several important political figures graduated from Rutgers, including FBI Director Louis Freeh and Vice President of the United States Garret A. Hobart.
Also located in New Jersey is an elite private school, Princeton University. Situated in the heart of Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University is the only Ivy League school located in the state. It is also a Colonial College that was established in 1746. Originally named the College of New Jersey, the name of the school was changed to Princeton University in 1896. It was the fourth college that was chartered in the country. It is a private university that has always been close with the Presbyterian Church, but it has no official religious affiliation. Princeton is unique because students do not choose specific degree programs. Students at Princeton University work toward general education requirements, and then specialize in their degrees with specific course work and certificates. Students either earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Princeton has long been hailed as a university that promotes independent work and study.