Best Online Education Programs in Plainfield, NJ (2026)
Plainfield, New Jersey has a population of about 54,515. The city’s median household income is $80,334 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 187 accredited schools offering education programs near Plainfield. In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $157,210 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Plainfield
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 187 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Plainfield. Distances are calculated from Plainfield city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strayer University-New Jersey | Piscataway, NJ | 5.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Middlesex College | Edison, NJ | 8.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ | 8.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Drew University | Madison, NJ | 10.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Kean University | Union, NJ | 10.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | Madison, NJ | 11.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Saint Elizabeth University | Morristown, NJ | 11.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Seton Hall University | South Orange, NJ | 12.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| College of Staten Island CUNY | Staten Island, NY | 14.1 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Raritan Valley Community College | Branchburg, NJ | 14.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New Jersey schools on the New Jersey education page.
Education Wages Near Plainfield
Plainfield is part of the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area (BLS area code 35620). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New Jersey statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $99,260 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $88,153 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $95,240 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $84,583 |
| Middle School Teacher | $82,870 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $73,597 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $95,060 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $84,423 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $157,210 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $139,618 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $136,880 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $121,563 |
| Tutor | $42,770 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $37,984 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $77,970 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $69,245 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Plainfield at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 54,515 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $80,334 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 22.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 112.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Union County | 3,157 workers, 200 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Plainfield-Area Cities With Education Programs
- North Plainfield, NJ – 1.2 mi away (22,073 pop)
- South Plainfield, NJ – 2.8 mi away (24,221 pop)
- Westfield, NJ – 4.6 mi away (30,206 pop)
- Rahway, NJ – 7.1 mi away (29,451 pop)
- Summit, NJ – 7.4 mi away (22,019 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Plainfield, NJ?
Our directory has 187 accredited schools offering education programs near Plainfield. The closest is Strayer University-New Jersey in Piscataway, NJ (5.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Raritan Valley Community College (14.3 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Plainfield?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Plainfield are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($157,210), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($136,880), Secondary School Teacher ($99,260). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New Jersey statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in North Plainfield instead of Plainfield?
North Plainfield, NJ is 1.2 miles from Plainfield and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Plainfield an affordable place to study education?
Plainfield’s median household income of $80,334 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Plainfield while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Jersey public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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