First-Year Scholarships

All first-year admitted students for the fall semester who meet the eligibility requirements below are reviewed for scholarships.* No additional application forms are required. University scholarships for first-year students are offered for a total of four years provided recipients maintain specified levels of academic achievement. Scholarship notification is sent subsequent to the letter of admission and no later than April 15. Recipients must respond by May 1.

If your school does not typically provide class rank, we will request one for scholarship review purposes. We accept sixth or seventh semester weighted ranks.

* Funding levels reflect last year's applicant pool. We encourage you to apply early because we are experiencing a significant increase in applications and funding is limited.

Preference for scholarships will be given to applicants who:

Submit their application and all credentials including transcripts, test scores, and essay by December 1, our priority application date.
Submit the essay with the application
Are U.S. citizen or permanent residents

Rutgers University Scholarships for New Jersey Residents**

SAT	ACT	High School Percentile Rank
(best combination of critical reading and math scores)	(Composite)	95-100	90-94	85-89
1500-1600	34	$20,175§	$10,000	$7,500
1450-1490	32	$10,000	$10,000	$7,500
1400-1440	31	$7,500	$7,500	$5,000
1300-1390	29	$5,000	$5,000	$2,500

§ Awards of $20,175 per year for a maximum of $80,700 for four years include a $9,500 on-campus housing and dining allowance. Admission to honors programs and eligibility for honors housing are additional benefits.

** In addition to the grid above, scholarships are awarded to a select group of students based on their potential contribution to Rutgers’ vibrant and diverse community. We include the following in our assessment: academic credentials, specialized talents, extracurricular activities, leadership, community service, work experience, awards, honors, and criteria such as socioeconomic background, attendance in New Jersey’s Abbott School Districts, and the relevance of the response to the essay question which must be submitted with the application.

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National Merit Scholarships

National Merit finalists who designate a division of Rutgers University as first choice on the National Merit Scholarship application will be awarded $1,000 per year, renewable for an additional three years. New Jersey and out-of-state residents are eligible.

National Achievement Scholarships

National Achievement finalists who designate a division of Rutgers University as first choice on the National Merit Scholarship application will be awarded $1,000 per year, renewable for three years. New Jersey and out-of-state residents are eligible.

Out-of-state residents are considered for an array of scholarships based on criteria similar to those described for New Jersey residents.

Other Sources of Financial Aid

We strongly recommend that students who wish to be considered for other forms of financial aid complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).