Published: September 4, 2026

The newest Highlanders arrived with boxes, suitcases and plenty of help as NJIT welcomed its largest incoming class and began a new academic year.

More than 1,900 incoming students joined the NJIT community, contributing to the largest first-year enrollment in university history. Their introduction to Highlander life began before the first class—with residence hall move-ins, outdoor celebrations, campus traditions and opportunities to begin building friendships.

Students moved into Martinson Residence Hall, home to Albert Dorman Honors College students, as well as Redwood and Cypress halls on Aug. 26 and 27. The activity quickly expanded beyond unpacking and arranging rooms as students and their families gathered for barbecues on the Campus Center Green.

New students with family

The days leading up to the start of classes offered new students dozens of ways to get acquainted with NJIT and one another. Welcome activities included karaoke, outdoor movies, soccer games, roller skating, board games, trivia and New Student Orientation’s Highlander Fest. Students could also visit Career Development Services, prepare semester success kits, walk their class schedules and learn more about campus resources.

The mix of academic preparation, recreation and student-led programming gave incoming Highlanders an early look at the many communities and experiences available beyond the classroom.

The start-of-semester celebrations also featured the NJIT tradition Pancakes with the President, bringing students together over breakfast and offering an informal opportunity to connect with university leadership.

The incoming class came together Sept. 2 for Convocation at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium. More than a formal welcome, Convocation marked students’ first opportunity to experience what it means to be part of the Highlander community — surrounded by the classmates, traditions and opportunities that will shape their years at NJIT.

Immediately afterward, the Involvement Fair introduced students to the breadth of campus life. Tabling organizations represented academic and professional interests, cultural communities, service, recreation and activities that were simply for fun—helping students identify new interests and find places to belong.

NJIT aerial

The incoming class also arrives at a university increasingly recognized for the outcomes it delivers. TIME ranked NJIT the No. 1 public university in New Jersey and No. 38 nationally, while a national analysis published by Stacker placed NJIT No. 10 among public colleges for 40-year return on investment. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked NJIT No. 1 among New Jersey public universities for both value and alumni salaries, and The Princeton Review ranked NJIT among the nation’s top 10 public universities for career placement.

For NJIT’s newest students, those long-term outcomes begin with the first days of a college experience—moving into a new home, meeting new classmates and discovering what it means to be a Highlander.

Say Hello to Some Highlanders

Tolu and Ozi

Tolu (left), a biomedical engineering major from Union, was drawn to engineering by a love of math and science — and to NJIT by its strong reputation for engineering. Tolu received an NJIT merit scholarship and hopes to work in the medical device industry, designing innovations such as prosthetics.
Ozi (right), also a biomedical engineering major from Union, considered becoming a doctor before choosing engineering — a field where they saw a chance to help people through problem-solving and technology. Ozi also received a merit scholarship and has goals of joining organizations like the Undergraduate Student Advisory Council, and maybe even creating a student group of her own.
Mike Morocho and Henry Batzibal

Mike Morocho (left), a civil engineering major from Orange, NJ, was inspired by his father’s career in construction. The son of Ecuadorian parents and the first in his family to attend college, Morocho looks forward to challenging himself, earning his degree and connecting with NJIT’s Hispanic community.
Henry Batzibal (right), a business major also from Orange, draws inspiration from relatives who own businesses and hopes to launch a venture of his own someday. With family roots in Guatemala, Henry chose NJIT for the knowledge, structure and learning experiences that will help prepare him.
NJIT Student Athletes

NJIT Athletics welcomed student athletes back to campus, giving Highlanders from across the university’s teams a chance to reconnect before another year of competition.
Hissan Shah

Hissan Shah, a mechanical engineering major from Budd Lake, says he is ready to explore the world of aerospace engineering and aircraft design at NJIT. Shah said being able to stay close to family while pursuing his engineering aspirations, along with a Newark College of Engineering scholarship, all shaped his decision to become a Highlander. He's most excited to get hands-on experience in the Makerspace and get involved with NJIT’s Formula SAE club.
Evelyn Thomas-Daniels

Evelyn Thomas-Daniels, from Camden, is studying software and data engineering technology. She got started by learning HTML and Python in middle school, and then studied computer science in her vocational high school. She’s the first in her family to attend a four-year university and would like to get involved in campus chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and perhaps clubs for crafting, dance, or music.
Edward Ormsby

Edward Ormsby, from Cambridge, England, came to NJIT to join the men’s swimming team and study business. He won multiple junior-level national championships and competed in the trials for the Commonwealth Games. But his fascination with business, and specifically real estate, goes back as far as when he learned to swim: Ormsby said his childhood hobby was browsing Zillow to look at mansions.
Sanae Ford

Sanae Ford hails from Roselle, and what drew her to NJIT was the diversity of the student community and the quantity of programs that the school offers. As a creative person who enjoys hands-on projects, Ford found NJIT's industrial design major to be a perfect fit. She says that campus life is "very welcoming," with many opportunities for meeting new people and learning about clubs and activities.
Sophia McGonigle

Sophia McGonigle comes to NJIT as a commuter from Lyndhurst. A major in forensic science with a concentration in CSI, her interest in the subject blossomed during a summer course in forensic science through the Center for Pre-College Programs. She chose to attend NJIT because "I really liked the community," she says, "and they had exactly what I wanted." McGonigle looks forward to meeting her fellow students and connecting with faculty as she finds her future path.
Rida Hajwane and Hannah Zafran

Rida Hajwane (left) is a biomedical engineering major from Parsippany, and she gravitated to NJIT based on the school's reputation for excellence in engineering education. Hajwane also appreciates the affordability of NJIT tuition, and finds the campus culture "open and welcoming."
Hannah Zafran (right) is a mechanical engineering major from nearby Basking Ridge. She has always been interested in engineering, and was attracted to NJIT's engineering curriculum as well as the school's proximity and value. The walkability of the campus and the numerous events that are available to students is another plus, she says.