Scholarships
Rutgers University offers a range of merit-based scholarships and need-based programs to help qualifying students fund their education.
Scholarships and Grants
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All applicants to Rutgers–Camden are considered for merit scholarships. There is no separate application for merit scholarships, but students who submit an undergraduate admissions application by the priority deadline will receive priority consideration.
New Jersey undergraduate students can dramatically reduce their college costs—up to 100%—at Rutgers–Camden with this program which covers the remaining costs of in-state tuition and fees after any other need-based federal, state, and/or institutional aid has been applied.
Bridging the Gap Program for Rutgers at Camden County College
The Bridging the Gap program allows transfer students from Camden County College to complete a bachelor’s degree while either reducing Rutgers–Camden tuition by half or eliminating it in full.
Road to Success Transfer Scholarship
New Jersey transfer students can dramatically reduce their college costs—up to 100%—at Rutgers–Camden with this program which closes the gap between federal and state sources of financial support and the balance of tuition and the general campus fee.
International Chancellor’s Scholarship
Nonsponsored, international students who hold an F-1 visa are eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $17,000 per year when enrolled as international first-year or transfer students at Rutgers–Camden.
International Chancellor’s Scholarship for Camden County College
Nonsponsored, international students who hold an F-1 visa and transfer from Camden County College to Rutgers–Camden as international students are eligible to receive a scholarship of up to $15,000 per year.
#YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship
First-year international students who are dedicated to advancing intercultural learning and understanding at Rutgers–Camden are eligible for a scholarship that covers a minimum of 50% tuition.
Current Students
Each spring, Rutgers–Camden offers several named and endowed scholarships ranging in amounts from $500 to $5,000 to current students. Named and endowed scholarships are established through the generosity of alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations. Many were created to honor or memorialize a favorite professor, a cherished classmate, or a beloved spouse. They are awarded annually based on the criteria set forth by the donor. Criteria include living in South Jersey, a specific major, veteran status, GPA, graduate or undergraduate, having taken a break from your education for five years, etc.
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Admitted students can be considered for scholarship awards each year. No separate application is required for scholarships. Many have specific eligibility requirements and can be renewable, provided the student maintains full-time enrollment status and meets the minimum academic criteria for each scholarship. Rutgers–Newark scholarships are renewable for four semesters for transfer students and eight semesters for first-year students, provided you are continuously enrolled at Rutgers–Newark.
Merit Scholarships
All first-year and transfer applicants applying for fall semester to Rutgers–Newark are considered for merit-based scholarships. There is no separate application, but students who submit an undergraduate admissions application by the priority deadline will receive consideration for scholarships. In order to receive a merit scholarship, awarded students must accept your Rutgers University—Newark offer of admission no later than May 1, 2025. Rutgers University—Newark merit scholarships are not transferable internally from school to school or to the New Brunswick or Camden campuses.
Honors Living-Learning Community (HLLC) Scholarship
The "last dollar" HLLC scholarship covers the cost of room and board after all federal, state, and internal/external scholarships and grants have been applied.
Expanded Rutgers University–Newark Talent & Opportunity Pathways (RU-N to the TOP) program provides a “last-dollar” award that covers the cost of annual in-state tuition and mandatory fees for New Jersey first-year and transfer students and caps the cost of in-state tuition and mandatory fees a year for families with annual adjusted gross incomes of $100,000 or below based on a sliding scale. In an effort to recruit outstanding undergraduate students from across the state, this award is offered after all federal, state, and internal/external scholarships and grants have been applied. Applicants are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually to be considered for the Expanded RU-N to the TOP. If they qualify as an NJ Dreamer, they would complete the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application.
The Garden State Guarantee (GSG) is New Jersey's promise to make a college degree more accessible and affordable. By reducing out-of-pocket costs for students and families, New Jersey is limiting the amount of debt that residents must borrow to attend an in-state, public college or university. To find out more about the program requirements and eligibility, please visit: https://myrun.newark.rutgers.edu/gsg
This competitive transfer student scholarship was created for students who are attending any of the 19 New Jersey community colleges and are members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. If selected, Phi Theta Kappa scholarship recipients are notified by March for fall enrollment.
The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) II is a continuation of NJ STARS and provides eligible NJ STARS students attending NJ community colleges with funding up to $1,250 per semester to transfer to a NJ four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree.
This scholarship opportunity is for undocumented students and DREAMers! TheDream.US scholarships award up to $29,000 to community college transfer applicants with an associate’s degree and up to $33,000 for high school graduate applicants obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Scholarships are awarded to help cover tuition, fees, books, supplies, and transportation expenses for students who would otherwise be unable to attend college.
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Rutgers–New Brunswick has established a single scholarship award process for all merit-based awards for fall first-year students to streamline the process – aligning merit-based award funding with a student’s indicated academic interest.
*Mason Gross School of the Arts bases scholarship decisions on the artistic talent within their applicant pool and does not follow the single scholarship award process. All first-year students who apply to Mason Gross School of the Arts and complete a talent assessment (audition/interview/portfolio) are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships.
For additional information about the first-year student scholarship award, go here.
The Scarlet Guarantee is a signature Rutgers–New Brunswick program designed to make college more accessible and affordable for first- and second-year students, offering a “last dollar” financial aid award that covers the cost of in-state tuition and eligible fees including student, school and technology fees. The Scarlet Guarantee is a supplemental program to the Garden State Guarantee.
International Student Scholarships
All admitted international students (on valid non-immigrant visas) are automatically considered for Rutgers international scholarships. No separate application is required. International students who wish to be considered for scholarships are encouraged to apply for admission by the early action or regular action application due dates. Given the limited availability, early applicants are more likely to be awarded scholarships. Scholarships range from $5,000–$16,000 per year.
National Merit Scholarships/College-Sponsored Merit Award
Rutgers is a sponsoring institution for students selected by the National Merit Scholarship Committee to receive the College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship Award ($1,000 per year, renewable). This award is valid for four years of undergraduate study with a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade-point average.
Rutgers offers several endowed scholarships ($500–$5,000 per year) funded by the generosity of alumni donors. Scholarships may be offered to descendants of the following class years: 1940, 1941, 1949, 1970, 1978, 1982, 1983, and the Rutgers College Class of 1980. Scholarships and scholarship amounts are based on available funds. Not all awards are renewable. Scholarship awards are based on criteria which includes academic credentials.
Theodore J. and F. Elizabeth Kirsch Southern California Scholarship
The Theodore J. and F. Elizabeth Kirsch Southern California endowed scholarship may be offered to first-year students who reside and attend public high school in the California communities of San Jose, San Mateo, and Palm Desert. Amounts are based on available funds and this scholarship is renewable.
This competitive transfer student scholarship was created for students who are attending a community college and are members of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Francis B. and Paige D. L’Hommedieu Scholarship
Francis B. and Paige D. L’Hommedieu Scholarship awards ($1,750–$3,500 per year) are based on available funds and open to eligible transfer students from community colleges. Criteria for consideration are specific so please review them carefully.
The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) II is a continuation of NJ STARS and provides eligible NJ STARS students attending NJ community colleges with funding up to $1,250 per semester to transfer to a NJ four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Because Rutgers is a proud Partner College of TheDream.US, DREAMers are able to attend Rutgers using the scholarship funds provided by this program. Please visit TheDream.US for National Scholarship eligibility requirements and application guidelines.
Paying for College
Frequently Asked Questions
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Submit your undergraduate application to Rutgers by one of the following dates:
- December 1 for fall first-year admission;
- February 1 for fall transfer admission; or
- October 1 for spring transfer admission.
No separate application is required. For information about other types of scholarships, see above.
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We primarily consider a student’s academic credentials at the time of application, within the context of the admitted student pool during a given year.
Mason Gross School of the Arts reviews talent; as measured through the portfolio, audition, or interview; to determine scholarship eligibility.
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Students are initially selected for scholarships based on academic credentials with the context of the admitted student pool, as noted above. Once selected for a merit scholarship, students could qualify for additional aid based on financial need.
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Only admitted students who are offered a scholarship are notified of their awards. Incoming first-year admitted students are notified beginning in early March. Spring transfer admitted students are notified of their awards in December, while fall transfer admitted students are notified in March.
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We offer a variety of scholarships through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Some scholarships have specific eligibility requirements. See above to learn more.
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Yes. If you maintain full-time enrollment status and meet the minimum criteria set for such scholarship, your scholarship will transfer with you to another Rutgers-New Brunswick school. All academic and scholarship renewal criteria are outlined in the award offer letter.
Note: This applies to merit scholarship recipients for Fall 2023 (and subsequent) first year and transfer students. If you received a scholarship prior to Fall 2023, your scholarship transfer to another Rutgers-New Brunswick school would be at the discretion of the school you wish to transfer into.
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International students are considered for scholarships each year. International student scholarships are limited in number and can therefore be quite competitive. As with traditional first-year merit awards, international students should apply no later than the December 1 due date for the following fall semester.
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Rutgers–Newark
Scholarships can be renewable, provided the student maintains full-time enrollment status and meets the minimum academic criteria for each scholarship. Rutgers–Newark scholarships are renewable for four semesters for transfer students and eight semesters for first-year students provided you are continuously enrolled at Rutgers–Newark.
Rutgers–New Brunswick
First-year merit based awards are renewable for three additional years provided you complete 24 credits per year and maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA (3.5 cumulative GPA for the Presidential Scholarship). Additional need based awards given to scholarship recipients require a student to maintain a 2.5 GPA.
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Academic schools within Rutgers offer a small number of continuing student scholarships each year. These scholarships are generally based on your cumulative college GPA and are awarded directly by the school.
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Not all students who receive an honors invitation will receive a scholarship. At the same time, not all scholarship recipients will receive an honors invitation.
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Scholarships are not reallocated. There are scholarship opportunities available to continuing students based on their academic performance at Rutgers. Continuing students should contact their academic school about potential scholarship opportunities.
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First-year students automatically accept their merit scholarship and/or honors offer by accepting our offer of admission by the May 1 candidate’s reply date. Other types of scholarship recipients (i.e. Phi Theta Kappa, endowed, etc.) will receive instructions via email about how to accept the award or required materials to submit.
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Rutgers’ Office of Undergraduate Admissions does not use legacy status for admissions or merit scholarship consideration. To learn more about class endowed scholarships, visit our scholarships page.
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Provided you follow all of the deferral guidelines and are not requesting an admission deferral for Mason Gross School of the Arts, you will maintain your scholarship and honors invitation for the following fall semester. You may only defer admission and maintain your scholarship offer for one school. Admission deferrals and scholarships for Mason Gross are not guaranteed. Applicants must reaudition or resubmit their portfolio for admission and scholarship review. Academic components of the application do not need to be resubmitted.
Additional award amounts that are need-based will require a review of your updated FAFSA information to determine eligibility.
Rutgers–Newark
Scholarships, unlike offers of admission, cannot be deferred. Scholarships are awarded within the context of the applicant pool for each academic school during a given year, per available funds.
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Yes, you will receive full consideration.