Rutgers University–Newark
Rutgers' test-blind campus in downtown Newark, known for its diverse student body and strong record on social mobility.
- Acceptance rate
- 79%
- First-year students entering fall 2023 (Common Data Set 2023-24, the latest published)
- Students
- 11,315
- 7,989 undergraduates
- International
- 2%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 14:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $40,106
- From · 2026-27
About Rutgers–Newark
Rutgers University–Newark traces its roots to the New Jersey Law School, which opened in 1908. That school and four other Newark institutions merged as the University of Newark in 1936, which became part of Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey, in 1946. Today it is one of Rutgers' three regional campuses: a compact, 38-acre urban campus in Newark's University Heights neighborhood, next door to the New Jersey Institute of Technology, with 11,315 students in fall 2024 (7,989 undergraduates).
First-year students enter the Newark College of Arts and Sciences (the largest school), Rutgers Business School–Newark, the School of Criminal Justice or the School of Public Affairs and Administration. The campus also houses Rutgers Law School, the Graduate School–Newark and research centers such as the Institute of Jazz Studies and the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience. Two honors programs, the Honors College and the Honors Living-Learning Community, sit alongside a seven-year BA/MD with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
Rutgers–Newark is test-blind for most applicants and admitted 13,997 of 17,779 first-year applicants for fall 2023. About 40% of students are the first in their family to go to college, more than nine in ten are New Jersey residents, and no racial or ethnic group makes up more than about 35% of students. It suits students who want a Rutgers degree at an in-state price in a genuinely urban setting.
Sol iustitiae et occidentem illustra
“Sun of righteousness, shine upon the West also” — university motto
Why students choose Rutgers–Newark
Test-blind admission: most applicants are judged on their high school record, essay and activities, not SAT or ACT scores.
Strong value for New Jersey students: RU-N to the TOP covers in-state tuition and fees in the first two years for families with income of $65,000 or less.
A seven-year BA/MD with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, with a Presidential Scholarship covering in-state tuition, food and housing for the three undergraduate years.
A downtown campus within blocks of Newark's commercial center and close to bus, rail and light-rail stations.
Admissions
First-year students entering fall 2023 (Common Data Set 2023-24, the latest published)
13,997 admitted from 17,779 applicants
1,408 first-years enrolled in fall 2023. IPEDS reports 36,793 applicants and a 71% admit rate for fall 2024, apparently counting applications differently from the CDS. Admission is by school; the BA/MD program is highly competitive and requires test scores.
Typical entry requirements
| U.S. high school curriculum | At least 16 academic units, including the specific high school subjects Rutgers requires for your school of application; STARS self-reported academic record for current seniors |
|---|---|
| International secondary education | Secondary school records plus English proficiency where required; F-1 students must also upload the International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) with a bank letter |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 Newark minimums: TOEFL iBT 79 for tests through January 21, 2026 (4.0 on the new scale from January 22, 2026), IELTS 6.5 (raised from January 2024), Duolingo 115, Michigan English Test 56, or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 550. |
Deadlines
- Early Action Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Non-binding; online decision by January 31, 2027. Reply by May 1, 2027.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Online decision by February 28, 2027. Reply by May 1, 2027.
Dates are Rutgers' fall 2027 application due dates for Newark. Rutgers says they are not hard deadlines, but late or incomplete applications may be withdrawn if schools meet enrollment goals first. Apply by the priority dates for merit scholarship consideration.
How to apply
Rutgers Application or Common App; $70 fee (waivers available); a required essay (650 words maximum on the Common App, with no supplemental essays); activities listed on the application; STARS self-reported academic record for current high school seniors. Letters of recommendation are not used. International F-1 applicants add the ISFS financial statement.
What admissions looks for
- Academic promise, first of all: completion of required high school subjects, grades and grade trends, weighted GPA and class rank where available.
- The strength of your program: the number and type of academic, honors and advanced courses you took.
- Qualitative factors including the personal essay, college-prep programs, extracurricular and community activities, awards, special talents and employment.
- Context: Newark explicitly considers family obligations and socioeconomic background.
Tips for applying to Rutgers–Newark
- 1 Don't spend energy on test prep for Newark unless you are applying to the BA/MD program: scores are not used in regular review.
- 2 Put real effort into the essay and the activities section; with no recommendations or test scores, they carry the non-academic weight of your file.
- 3 Submit your STARS record promptly after applying, since Rutgers reviews applications only once they are complete.
- 4 Apply by November 1, 2026 for early action; merit scholarships such as the Chancellor's and Carr Scholarships go to applicants who meet the priority dates, with no separate form.
- 5 New Jersey applicants should file the FAFSA (or NJ Alternative Application) to be considered automatically for RU-N to the TOP and the Garden State Guarantee.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
All fall first-year applicants are considered for merit scholarships with no separate application, including the Chancellor's Scholarship (up to $5,000 a year) and the Carr Scholarship ($10,000 a year for four years); the Honors Living-Learning Community scholarship covers remaining food and housing costs. RU-N to the TOP is a last-dollar award covering in-state tuition and fees for New Jersey first- and second-year students with family AGI of $65,000 or less, alongside the state's Garden State Guarantee. International students get no need-based institutional aid; in 2023-24, 31 nonresidents received merit aid averaging $7,467.
- $46,946 New Jersey resident; $68,968 out of state
- 2026-27 on-campus cost of attendance (Newark College of Arts and Sciences)
- Free in-state tuition and fees for NJ first- and second-years with AGI of $65,000 or less
- RU-N to the TOP
- $10,000 a year ($40,000 over four years)
- Carr Scholarship
- 31 students, averaging $7,467 (non-need-based only)
- Nonresident undergraduates with institutional aid (CDS 2023-24)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Seven-year BA/MD with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Three undergraduate years in Arts and Sciences, then medical school, with a Presidential Scholarship covering in-state tuition, food and housing for the undergraduate years.
Rutgers Business School–Newark
An AACSB-accredited business school founded in 1929; admitted students for fall 2026 had a middle-50% GPA of 3.5-4.0.
School of Criminal Justice
A research center on policing and crime whose recent Newark study found brighter street lighting cut violent crime by nearly 46%.
Honors Living-Learning Community (HLLC)
An honors model built around students, faculty and community partners tackling social issues, with a last-dollar scholarship for food and housing.
Honors College
Founded in 1972; its students have won Truman, Goldwater, Gates Cambridge and Fulbright awards.
Research
- The Institute of Jazz Studies, founded in 1952.
- RUBIC, which the campus describes as New Jersey's most advanced brain imaging center, and the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience.
- The Rutgers Aging and Brain Health Alliance, one of the largest U.S. programs on aging and Alzheimer's risk in older African Americans.
Schools & faculties
- Newark College of Arts and Sciences (School of Arts and Sciences–Newark)
- Rutgers Business School–Newark
- School of Criminal Justice
- School of Public Affairs and Administration
- University College–Newark
- Honors College
- Honors Living-Learning Community
- Rutgers Law School
- Graduate School–Newark
College Scorecard: median earnings of $74,479 ten years after entry and $61,263 six years after entry for federally aided students.
Student life
Rutgers–Newark has traditionally been a commuter campus: in fall 2023 about a quarter of first-years and 15% of all undergraduates lived in university housing, which now has more than 1,800 beds across five residence halls. Express Newark, the university's arts and community space, is marking its 10th anniversary in 2026. The student body is strikingly diverse, and about 40% of students are first-generation. The Scarlet Raiders play 14 sports in NCAA Division III's New Jersey Athletic Conference.
- A Hispanic-Serving Institution, with students from 119 countries according to the campus.
- 14 NCAA Division III varsity sports as the Scarlet Raiders, based at the Golden Dome Athletic Center.
- Two honors routes: the Honors College and the Honors Living-Learning Community.
- Cross-registration with the neighboring New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Housing. More than 1,800 beds in five residence halls; about 26% of first-years lived on campus in fall 2023, and most students commute.
Location
The campus sits in Newark's University Heights neighborhood, within blocks of downtown and close to bus, rail and light-rail stations, with NJIT on its border. Most students commute, many from elsewhere in New Jersey, and Newark Liberty International Airport is the nearest major airport. Expect a city campus rather than a leafy quad: part of the appeal is how closely the university works with Newark itself.
Nearest airport: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Notable alumni
- EW Elizabeth WarrenU.S. senator from Massachusetts and former Harvard law professor; JD from Rutgers Law School, 1976
- LF Louis FreehDirector of the FBI (1993-2001); JD from Rutgers School of Law–Newark, 1974
- JV Judith ViorstAuthor of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; studied history, graduating in 1952
- RY Ramy YoussefComedian and creator of the Golden Globe-winning series Ramy; studied political science and economics (did not graduate)
- ES Esther SalasU.S. District Judge for New Jersey; JD from Rutgers Law School in Newark, 1994
- PM Patrick MorriseyGovernor of West Virginia since 2025; law degree from Rutgers School of Law–Newark
- MA Mussab AliFormer Jersey City Board of Education president; Rutgers–Newark's first Truman Scholar
Frequently asked questions
Does Rutgers–Newark require the SAT or ACT?
No. Rutgers–Newark is test-blind for most applicants, so scores are not used in admission review. Only applicants to the seven-year BA/MD program must submit an SAT or ACT score.
What is Rutgers–Newark's acceptance rate?
The latest Common Data Set shows 13,997 of 17,779 first-year applicants admitted for fall 2023, about 79%. IPEDS reports a 71% admit rate for fall 2024.
When should I apply to Rutgers–Newark for fall 2027?
Early action is due November 1, 2026 (decision by January 31, 2027) and regular decision December 1, 2026 (decision by February 28, 2027). Both are non-binding, with a May 1 reply date.
How much does Rutgers–Newark cost?
For 2026-27, full-time tuition and fees in the Newark College of Arts and Sciences are $18,656 for New Jersey residents and $40,106 for out-of-state students; with on-campus food and housing ($21,946), the estimated cost of attendance is $46,946 and $68,968.
Is Rutgers–Newark the same as Rutgers–New Brunswick?
No. Both are part of Rutgers, but they are separate campuses with their own schools, admissions criteria, merit scholarships and rankings; you choose your campus and school when you apply.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to Rutgers–Newark in the QS World University Rankings 2027.