Rutgers–Newark Scholarships
Expanded Rutgers University–Newark Talent and Opportunity Pathways
In 2016, the university established the Rutgers University–Newark Talent and Opportunity Pathways (RU-N to the TOP) financial aid program for newly enrolled undergraduate students. This program solidifies our strategic plan and promise to boundary-crossing scholarship, diverse talent cultivation, and engagement as an anchor institution. The RU-N to the TOP program enabled us to build upon these commitments and attract first-year students from Newark and Greater Newark, and transfer students from all of New Jersey’s community colleges. With a program expansion in fall 2022, Expanded RU-N to the TOP now serves newly admitted undergraduate students from across the state of New Jersey.
Expanded RU-N to the TOP offers free in-state tuition and mandatory fees to admitted New Jersey undergraduate first-year and transfer students whose annual adjusted gross income is $65,000 or less. Students in the $65,001 to $80,000 bracket will pay $3,000 and those who fall between $80,001 and $100,000 will pay $5,000. For residents of Newark, Irvington, Orange, and East Orange, RU-N to the TOP will also cover part-time enrollment tuition and mandatory fees and provide support for a winter or summer semester. In addition, this program is now be augmented on some levels by the Garden State Guarantee, a state program launched by Governor Phil Murphy and his administration that increases college affordability throughout the state. Combined with the Garden State Guarantee program, Expanded RU-N to the TOP will now allow New Jersey’s students to attend Rutgers-Newark tuition-free or at the capped rate for four years. Rutgers-Newark applicants will automatically be considered for RU-N to the TOP when they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If they qualify as an NJ Dreamer, they would complete the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application.
All eligible students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year in association with the Expanded RU-N to the TOP award.
Honors Living-Learning Community Scholarship
The Honors Living-Learning Community (HLLC) is a transformative college access and success program that fosters the academic, social, and personal development of talented first-year and transfer students with a desire to make a difference in their communities and beyond. HLLC builds supportive networks among diverse students who desire to live and learn together.
- Offers a “last-dollar” HLLC residential scholarship that covers room and board
- This "last dollar" HLLC scholarship is offered to the student after all federal, state, and internal/external scholarships and grants have been applied
- The scholarship is eight semesters for first-year students and four semesters for transfer students
- Provides personalized faculty mentoring and academic advisement
- Introduces the HLLC cohort to an innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum
- Exposes HLLC students to meaningful internships and research opportunities
- Helps HLLC students with academic promise to realize their dreams
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
This competitive transfer student scholarship award is open to students who attend any of the current NJ community colleges and are members of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
- Recipients are notified by April for fall enrollment.
- Must apply by priority deadline February 1.
Criteria for consideration are specific so please review them carefully:
- Students who are enrolled full-time in a transfer program at a community college at the time of application.
- Students who are a member of their community college Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at the time of application.
- Students who will be earning an associate’s degree in arts (A.A.) or science (A.S.)
- At the time of enrollment must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.8 for consideration; grades from all college courses are considered.
- Students must enroll directly from the associate degree-granting community college, with no intervening enrollment at another institution.
Rutgers–Newark has been named among 2021 Transfer Honor Roll by Phi Theta Kappa, which identified the top four-year colleges and universities creating dynamic pathways to support transfer students.
NJ STARS II Scholarship
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.