Montclair State University

Montclair State University (MSU) is a public research university located in Montclair, New Jersey, with parts of its campus extending into Clifton and Little Falls. As of 2024, it is the second largest public university in New Jersey by enrollment, with over 22,000 students, including undergraduates and graduate students. Classified as an R2 doctoral university with high research activity, MSU offers more than 300 majors, minors, and concentrations on its approximately 252-acre campus. The university's origins date back to 1903 when plans for a state normal school were initiated. It officially opened in 1908 as the New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair, primarily focused on training teachers. The first building, College Hall (now Cole Hall), and the first dormitory, Russ Hall, still stand on campus. Over the years, the institution expanded its programs and facilities, becoming Montclair State Teachers College in 1927, the first in the U.S. to offer a four-year Bachelor of Arts in pedagogy, and later Montclair State College in 1958 after merging with Panzer College of Physical Education and Hygiene.In 1994, the school gained university status as Montclair State University and broadened its graduate offerings, including master’s and doctoral degrees in various fields. The university has made significant investments in infrastructure, such as the opening of the Montclair State University NJ Transit station in 2004, which connects it to New York City. Recent developments include the establishment of the School of Communication and Media, the Feliciano School of Business, and the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences. In 2016, the university was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution and recognized as a public research university by the New Jersey Legislature in 2017. Since then, MSU has continued to grow its research profile, transitioning from a master’s to a doctoral research university and achieving R2 classification for high research activity by 2019.