Exploring Montclair State University: A Comprehensive Guide

Montclair State University, a public research university located in Montclair, New Jersey, extends its campus into Clifton and Little Falls. As of June 2024, the university has a total enrollment of 22,570 students, comprising 18,062 undergraduates and 4,508 graduate students. Classified as an "R2: Doctoral Universities - High research activity" institution, Montclair State's campus spans approximately 252 acres (1.02 km2).

Historical Overview

The journey of Montclair State began with the initiation of plans for a State Normal School in 1903, requiring a year for the State of New Jersey to grant permission to build the school. Established in 1908 as the "New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair," the institution was dedicated by Governor John Franklin Fort, with Charles Sumner Chapin serving as its first principal. The first building constructed, College Hall (now Cole Hall), still stands today. Initially, the campus covered around 25 acres (100,000 m2), with 8 faculty members and 187 students. The first graduating class of 45 students included William O. Trapp, who later won the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1929.

In 1927, Harry Sprague became the first president of Montclair. Following studies highlighting that only 10% of New Jersey high school teachers held degrees from within the state, the institution became "Montclair State Teachers College" in 1927. It subsequently developed a four-year Bachelor of Arts program in pedagogy, a first for a U.S. institute.

During World War II in 1943, students volunteered to join the U.S. Navy with President Harry Sprague's permission. In 1958, the school merged with the "Panzer College of Physical Education and Hygiene" to become "Montclair State College." By 1966, it had evolved into a comprehensive, multi-purpose institution. On April 27, 1994, the Board of Higher Education designated it a teaching university, and it officially became "Montclair State University" that same year.

Academic Evolution

Montclair State has a rich history of offering advanced degree programs. Master of Arts programs have been available since 1932, followed by Master of Business Administration programs in 1981, Master of Education programs in 1985, Master of Science programs in 1992, and Master of Fine Arts programs in 1998. The university began granting doctoral degrees in 1998 with a Doctor of Education degree. In 2003, a Doctor of Environmental Management was added (now a PhD in Environmental Science and Management). Additional PhD programs were introduced in Teacher Education and Teacher Development (2008), Counselor Education, Family Studies, Mathematics Education, and Communications Sciences and Disorders (by 2014), and Clinical as well as Industrial/Organizational Psychology (2021).

Campus Development and Infrastructure

In 2004, NJ Transit opened the Montclair State University station, providing a direct rail link to New York City. The construction of the MSU Station, including a 1,500-space parking deck, cost $26 million.

The university established the School of Communication and Media in 2015 and added two new buildings: the Feliciano School of Business and the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences (CELS). Partridge Hall was renovated in 2016 to house the new School of Nursing.

In 2017, Montclair State was designated a public research university by the New Jersey Legislature and was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The new School of Communication and Media building opened in fall 2017, followed by the renovated and expanded Center for Computing and Information Science in the former Mallory Hall in 2018.

Leadership

Montclair State University has been guided by several key figures throughout its history:

Charles S. Chapin: Principal of New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair.
Harry A. Sprague: Principal, then first president of the College.
E. DeAlton Partridge: .
E. Thomas H. Richardson: Acting President from 1964 to 1966.
David W.D. Dickson: First African American president of the College.
Donald E. Walters.
Richard A. Lynde.
Irvin D. Reid: Spearheaded the effort to upgrade Montclair State from a college to a university.
Susan A. Cole: First female and Jewish president of the university.
Jonathan G.S. Koppell.

Colleges and Schools

Montclair State University comprises seven colleges and six schools, each led by a dean or director:

Read also: Red Hawks Athletics

College of the Arts.
College of Education and Human Services: Houses the Center of Pedagogy, which oversees the Teacher Education program.
College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM): Offers programs in the natural, physical, life, and computational sciences. Located in Richardson Hall, it includes the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and the Student Success Center.
The Center for Environmental and Life Sciences (CELS): Houses the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies, encompassing Earth and Environmental Science; Geographic, Environmental and Urban Studies; and Sustainability Science.
Feliciano School of Business: Offers undergraduate and MBA programs, including a BA degree in Economics. The MBA program became fully online in 2016 and also offers post-MBA certificate programs.
School of Nursing: Launched in 2016.
School of Communication and Media: The then-school opened a new facility in fall 2017 and is set to become a College in 2025.
University College: Serves as an initial academic home for students exploring their academic interests, admitting about one-third of incoming freshmen and approximately 1,400 returning and transfer students who have yet to declare a major.

Rankings and Recognition

Montclair State University has received recognition in various rankings:

U.S. News & World Report: Ranked No. 152 among national universities in the 2025 rankings, tied for No. 12 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
U.S. News & World Report 2020: Ranked in Best Online Programs.
The Princeton Review: The Feliciano School of Business was included in the 2020 edition of "The Best Business Schools." Montclair State was included in The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2019 Edition as one of America's greenest campuses.
Money Magazine: Ranked Montclair State among the nation's "Best Colleges for Your Money" in 2020 and at No. 16 on its 2020 "Most Transformative Colleges" list.
Campus Pride: Named Montclair State a "Premier Campus" in its 2020 Campus Pride Index, a national listing of LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities.

Campus Expansion and Facilities

The original Montclair State University campus included College Hall, Russ Hall, Chapin Hall, and Morehead Hall, constructed between 1908 and 1928. Housing for students returning from World War II was added near the end of the war. Between 1950 and 1980, the university acquired land from a former traprock quarry and expanded its facilities with 23 additional buildings.

The late 1990s marked another phase of growth to accommodate New Jersey's increasing student population. Dickson Hall was dedicated in 1995, named after David W.D. Dickson. The Floyd Hall Arena, an ice skating rink, was built in 1998, and Science Hall, home to the Department of Biology, opened in 1999.

The NJ Transit Montclair State University station and Parking Deck opened on October 20, 2004, providing direct access to New York Penn Station. Chapin Hall was renovated and expanded to house the John J. Cali School of Music.

The Heights, two student housing and dining complexes adjacent to the Student Recreation Center and CarParc Diem Garage, opened in August 2011, housing approximately 2,000 students and increasing on-campus housing capacity to 5,500.

Read also: MSU Notable Graduates

A 143,000 square feet (13,300 m2) building to house the Feliciano School of Business, adjacent to University Hall. The 107,500 square feet (9,990 m2) Center for Environmental and Life Sciences building, located adjacent to Richardson Hall, opened in 2015. CELS houses the Department of Earth and Environmental Studies and all of its research facilities, the Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Laboratory, the Margaret and Herman Sokol Institute for Pharmaceutical Life Sciences, the New Jersey Center for Water Science and Technology, the PSEG Institute for Sustainability Studies, and the interdisciplinary PhD program in Environmental Science and Management.

Athletics

Montclair State University's athletic teams have been known by various names throughout the school's history. From the late 1920s to '30s, they were known as the "Big Red." In August 1989, the school changed its nickname to the Red Hawks, named after the Red-tailed hawks indigenous to the area. Montclair's athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III and the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).

Key athletic facilities include:

MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field: A 3,000-seat artificial turf field.
Yogi Berra Stadium: A 3,400-seat stadium that is home to the MSU baseball team and the Yogi Berra Museum.
Montclair State University Ice Arena: Opened in March 1998, featuring two NHL-size rinks.
Student Recreation Center: A 77,000-square-foot facility with fitness floors, a swimming pool, racquetball courts, a basketball court, and multi-purpose rooms.

Notable Alumni

Montclair State University has produced numerous notable alumni, including:

William E. Gordon (1918-2010): Physicist and astronomer.
Paul J. Fireman: Businessman.
Andrew R. Cecil: Academic.
Joan Voss (born 1940): Politician.
Janine K. Iannarelli: Businesswoman.
A. J. Calloway: Television personality.
Terri L. Austin: Politician.
Olivia Lux (born 1994): Drag Queen.
Reggie Noble (born 1970): Rapper (Redman).
Robert M. Price (born 1954): Biblical Scholar.
Eugene T. Nelson Jr.: Educator.

Directions

From the North: Garden State Parkway South, to Exit 149. Turn left onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive. Proceed two blocks to traffic light.
From the South: Garden State Parkway North, to Exit 148. Continue north on John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive to 4th traffic light.
From the West: Route 78 East or Route 280 East to Garden State Parkway North, to Exit 148. Continue north on John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive to 4th traffic light.
From the East: George Washington Bridge to Route 80 West or Lincoln Tunnel to Route 3 West, to Garden State Parkway South, to Exit 149. Turn left onto John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive. Proceed two blocks to traffic light.

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