Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
66%
Acceptance Rate
$16,592
Avg Cost (In-State)
$35,636
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
82%
Graduation Rate
50,411
Total Enrollment
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
December 1
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Action)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
0
Application Fee
$70
Interview
Not required
Essays: One personal essay required through Common App or Rutgers application
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$61,263
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$74,479
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
67%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
What current students say
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Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
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Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
NJ Garden State Guarantee
~$24k valueFree tuition at any NJ public 4-year university for residents with family income under $65,000 in years 3-4 of college.
Who it helps: NJ residents with family income under $65k pursuing a 4-year degree at a NJ public university.
How to use: Apply to a NJ public 4-year. File FAFSA every year. NJ HESAA + the institution apply the award automatically in years 3-4.
Source ↗Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗NJ STARS (Community College Free)
~$8k valueTop 15% of every NJ high school class gets free community college tuition for up to 5 semesters via NJ STARS.
Who it helps: Top 15% of every NJ high school class. Doesn't matter how strong the school is — top 15% relative to your own class.
How to use: School certifies your top-15% status. File FAFSA + the NJ STARS application via HESAA.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
NJ Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)
Up to ~$15,800 (privates), $13,500 (Rutgers), less at others
stateNJ residents at NJ colleges with financial need; largest NJ grant program.
Deadline: FAFSA by April 15 (renewal) or June 1 (new students)
Learn more ↗NJ Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)
Up to $2,500/year + summer institute
stateNJ residents with educational disadvantage + low income; selected for academic support program at NJ colleges.
Deadline: Through campus EOF director
Learn more ↗Federal Work-Study
Varies (hourly wages, typically $10–$20/hr)
federalStudents with financial need who want to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled.
Deadline: Varies by school (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395/year
federalUndergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (determined by FAFSA EFC).
Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline for current award year)
Learn more ↗Dell Scholars Program
$20,000 over 4 years + laptop + textbook credits
nationalStudents who have participated in an approved college-readiness program, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 2.4 GPA.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000
nationalHigh school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrate leadership and community service.
Deadline: October 31
Learn more ↗Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
Up to $55,000/year
nationalHigh-achieving high school seniors with financial need (family income under $95,000). Minimum 3.5 GPA.
Deadline: November 18
Learn more ↗Siemens Competition (now part of Regeneron ISEF)
Up to $100,000
activityHigh school students who compete in regional and national ISEF-affiliated science fairs.
Deadline: Varies by regional fair
Learn more ↗Regeneron Science Talent Search
Up to $250,000 (top award)
activityHigh school seniors who complete an independent science, math, or engineering research project.
Deadline: November (registration opens in June)
Learn more ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
34.0%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
29.0%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
88.0%
% in-state
Residents of the college's home state
23.0%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
28.0%
Yield rate
Share of admitted students who enroll
92.0%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
84.0%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
Demonstrated interest
Not considered
Visits, info sessions and opening emails don't move the needle here.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Scottsdale, AZ
66.7% acceptance
Both admit around 67% of applicants, with 54k undergrads and a s campus — a close selectivity match.
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT
67.8% acceptance
Both admit around 68% of applicants, with 33k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
68% acceptance
Both admit around 68% of applicants, with 35k undergrads and a c campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
CUNY City College
New York, NY
60% acceptance
Similar selectivity (60% vs 66%) but out-of-state cost runs $15k — meaningfully less than $36k.
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY
56.6% acceptance
Similar selectivity (57% vs 66%) but out-of-state cost runs $15k — meaningfully less than $36k.
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY
58.4% acceptance
Similar selectivity (58% vs 66%) but out-of-state cost runs $15k — meaningfully less than $36k.
Reaches above this college
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA
55% acceptance
Same c setting in the Northeast, but more selective (55% vs 66%) — a stretch target if Rutgers University is already on your list.
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT
52.4% acceptance
Same c setting in the Northeast, but more selective (52% vs 66%) — a stretch target if Rutgers University is already on your list.
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
8.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the Northeast, but more selective (9% vs 66%) — a stretch target if Rutgers University is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ
77.7% acceptance
Same c setting in the Northeast, but higher admit rate (78% vs 66%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH
80% acceptance
Same c setting in the Northeast, but higher admit rate (80% vs 66%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
Durham, NH
88.2% acceptance
Same c setting in the Northeast, but higher admit rate (88% vs 66%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Transfer pathways
Routes in from a community college.
From NJ community colleges
articulation onlyRutgers maintains the NJ Transfer program, which guarantees admission for New Jersey community college graduates who complete an A.A. or A.S. with a 2.5+ GPA and apply by the deadline. Partner community colleges include all 18 NJ county colleges. Specific majors (engineering, bus…
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