Rutgers–New Brunswick Scholarships
Rutgers First-Year Student Awards
Admitted students who apply by December 1 and are offered admission to at least one school at Rutgers–New Brunswick will be considered for merit-based awards. For the fall 2021 incoming class, these scholarships range in amount from $2,000–$29,000 per year. No separate application is required, and scholarships are renewable provided the student maintains full-time enrollment status and meets the minimum academic criteria set for each scholarship.
Scholarships are highly competitive. Scholarship offers are based on a careful and thorough review of information provided in the application, a student’s academic strengths and performance, and financial need. Other factors considered when awarding scholarships is the overall competitiveness of the applicant pool and available funding. There is no specific set of academic credentials that guarantees an award.
- First-year award offers may vary by school.
- We only consider SAT and ACT scores from exams taken before January 1 of the student’s senior year.
- All U.S. citizens and permanent residents seeking merit-based scholarships are also encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Note: Merit award recipients may receive additional awards based on their financial need. Merit scholarships are contingent upon enrollment by May 1.
Scholarship recipients will receive information regarding their scholarship in their Financial Aid Offer Letter made available by the Office of Financial Aid in early March.
To Be Considered
- Apply to Rutgers and submit all required credentials by December 1.
Students who have an approved request for deferral and were offered a scholarship to their deferring school this year will be offered the same scholarship in the year of their enrollment. Students must follow all deferral guidelines in order to maintain their admission and their scholarship. Mason Gross School of the Arts students who defer their admission must re-audition or re-submit a portfolio for the year of their intended enrollment and scholarship awards will be based on their competitiveness in the entering class for that 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.
To Be Considered
- National Merit finalists must designate Rutgers University as their first choice on the National Merit Scholarship application.
Class Endowed Scholarships
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. Recipients are notified in July.
To Be Considered
- Email a request at scholarships@admissions.rutgers.edu by May 1, and include your name, RUID, and the name of the Rutgers alumnus as well as his/her Rutgers school, year of graduation, and your relationship to the alumnus.
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. Scholarship and scholarship amounts are based upon available funds and are renewable. Scholarship recipients are notified in July.
To Be Considered
- First-year admitted students must reside and attend public high school in the California communities of San Jose, San Mateo, and Palm Desert.
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by December 1.
Transfer Student Scholarships
Rutgers offers scholarships to a select number of admitted transfer students. Transfer student scholarships are competitive awards and are based on the academic strength and prowess of individual applicants, the overall strength of our applicant pool, and available funding.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Phi Theta Kappa scholarship ($8,000 per year) recipients are notified beginning in December (for spring enrollment) and April (for fall enrollment).
Criteria for consideration are specific so please review carefully:
- Students must be enrolled full-time in a transfer program at a community college at the time of application.
- Students must be a member of their community college’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at the time of application.
- Students must have completed at least 45 credits at the time of applying to Rutgers.
- Students must earn an associate’s degree in arts or science by the time of enrollment.
- Recipients traditionally have between a 3.9 and 4.0 cumulative grade-point average in all completed college courses, as well as a minimum 3.8 cumulative grade-point average from all previous colleges attended.
- No separate application is required. We will consider admitted transfer applicants who:
- Apply to Rutgers–New Brunswick via the Rutgers Application Portal by October 1 for spring admission, or apply via the Rutgers Application Portal or the Coalition for College by February 1 for fall admission.
- All required credentials must be submitted by the same application due date.
Francis B. and Paige D. L'Hommedieu Scholarship
Francis B. and Paige D. L’Hommedieu Scholarship ($1,750–$3,500 per year) awards are based upon available funds. Scholarship recipients are notified in July for fall enrollment.
Criteria for consideration are specific so please review carefully:
- Student must enroll directly from the associate degree-granting New Jersey community college, with no intervening enrollment at another institution.
- Student must have earned an associate’s degree in arts or science by June 1 and have a minimum 3.8 cumulative grade-point average for consideration. Grades from all college courses are considered. Scholarships are competitive awards and based on the academic strength of individual applicants, the overall strength of our applicant pool, and available funding.
- Student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of application.
- No separate application is required. We will consider admitted transfer applicants who:
- Apply to Rutgers–New Brunswick via the Rutgers Application Portal or the Coalition for College by February 1 for fall admission.
- All required credentials must be submitted by the same application due date.
NJ STARS II
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. Please review the information provided by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) for full details about NJ STARS II eligibility requirements.
- Participation in NJ STARS does not guarantee admission to Rutgers.
- Students must have participated in NJ STARS at a New Jersey community college.
- Eligible students may receive the NJ STARS II award for up to four consecutive semesters, excluding summer sessions.
- All potentially eligible students must submit a final official transcript certifying the receipt of an associate’s degree with date of completion to the Office of University Undergraduate Admissions Operations Center.
- The transfer of academic credits from the community college to Rutgers is governed by the policies and procedures set forth in the statewide transfer agreement.
- NJ STARS II is operated at the discretion of the State of New Jersey. Renewal is based upon continued eligibility and available funding.
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 by either 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 $2,000–$10,000 per year.
The majority of international students support their undergraduate education through family, private, government or other funds. Some of the most academically accomplished international applicants to Rutgers may be offered scholarships. The process is very competitive as a limited number of scholarships are available each year.
Notification of scholarships is sent after an offer of admission. Scholarships are awarded for a total of four years of undergraduate education, and recipients will be expected to maintain a minimum of a 3.25 grade-point average.
Scholarship for DREAMers
Rutgers is proud to be a Partner College of TheDream.US. As a Partner College, DREAMers are able to attend our university using the scholarship funds provided by TheDream.US.
We are committed to DREAMers’ success. Please visit TheDream.US for National Scholarship eligibility requirements and application guidelines.