Rutgers University–Newark is open and operating with mostly remote instruction. The Office of Graduate and Undergraduate Admissions will operate remotely through spring 2021. Information on the university’s response to COVID-19 is available at coronavirus.rutgers.edu
The Rutgers 2021 application is open.
Standardized Tests Now Optional for 2021 Applicants
Due to the uncertainty of test dates and availability of standardized tests, Rutgers has made submission of SAT and ACT test scores optional for students applying for 2021 admission.
First-Year Applicants
We notify applicants as soon as our decision(s) for any of their schools of application is final. For qualified early action applicants, we guarantee notification by January 31; and for qualified regular action applicants, notification of our admissions decision will be by February 28.
The decision about which students to admit is based upon our comprehensive review of each application. Primary emphasis is placed on the student’s academic promise as demonstrated by:
- Completion of required entrance subjects
- Academic performance in high school or its equivalent:
- Strength of academic program (number/type of academic, honors, or advanced placement courses completed)
- Grades and grade trends
- Weighted grade-point average(s)
- Cumulative rank, when available
- SAT and/or ACT scores
- English Proficiency Examination results, when required
We also consider such qualitative factors as:
- Personal essay
- Participation in programs designed for college preparation
- Extracurricular activities, including community, volunteer, and/or U.S. military service
- Honors, awards, and other achievements
- Special talents
- Employment history
- Family obligations
- Socioeconomic background
The number of applicants Rutgers admits to each of our schools/colleges is determined by the quality of the applicant pool (which changes from year to year and may vary for each college/school of application) and the space in the entering class. Please refer to our admissions profile of previously admitted students.
We review applications when they are complete with all required credentials and we review first the applications submitted by these due dates.
Transfer Applicants
Rutgers admissions decisions are based upon a comprehensive review of each completed application. The number of students we can admit is determined by the available space in each class and the quality of the overall applicant pool. These change from year to year and vary for each of our schools of application.
We place primary emphasis on an applicant's academic promise as demonstrated by:
- Strength of academic program
- Grade trends
- Cumulative grade-point average (GPA)
- Number of credits completed
- English Proficiency Examination results, when required
We also consider such qualitative factors as:
- Community, volunteer, or U.S. military service
- Employment history
- Special talents
- Essay
Transfer students are expected to have completed specific required entrance subjects:
- Transfer students must have satisfactorily completed two college level English courses and one college level math course.
- If necessary, completed college courses may be used to satisfy high school course requirements.
BACK TO TOP