How We Make Decisions

How Rutgers–Newark Makes Decisions

We notify applicants as soon as our decision(s) for any of their schools of application is final.

• For early-action applicants, we guarantee notification by January 31.
• For regular action applicants, notification of our admissions decision will be by February 28.

Decisions about which students to admit are based upon our comprehensive review of each application. Primary emphasis is placed on the student’s academic promise as demonstrated by:

• Completion of required high school 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 (test score submission not required for students applying for spring 2022 and beyond)
  • See exceptions to this policy
  • SAT/ACT scores are required for students applying to 7-year BA/MD program
• 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.

How Rutgers–Newark Makes Decision

We notify applicants as soon as our decision(s) for any of their schools of application is final.

• A transfer student who submits an application with all required credentials by February 1, will receive notification via an admissions decision by April 15 for fall enrollment.
• A transfer student who submits an application after February 1, will receive notification via an admissions decision on a rolling basis for fall enrollment.

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 high school 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.

Your high school record must show that you will graduate or have graduated with at least 16 academic units.

Entrance to an undergraduate school at Rutgers–Newark (School of Arts & Sciences-Newark, Rutgers Business School–Newark and New Brunswick, School of Criminal Justice, and School of Public Affairs and Administration) requires the following:

• English: 4 years
• Foreign Language: 2 years of one language
• Mathematics: 3 years (including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
• Science: 2 years
• Other Courses: 5 other academic courses
• Total: 16 academic courses

The School of Nursing-Newark requires all applicants complete the following coursework at the high school level to be considered for admission:

• English: 4 years
• Foreign Language: None required
• Mathematics: 3 years (including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
• Science: 1 year each of Biology and Chemistry
• Other Courses: 7 other academic courses
• Total: 16 academic courses

Transfer students are expected to have completed the specific required high school courses noted above. If necessary, college courses may be used to satisfy high school course requirements.

View the admissions profile of previously admitted students.

This chart indicates the academic profile of admitted students, that is, the approximate SAT and ACT score ranges and grade-point averages for the middle 50% of high school students regularly admitted to Rutgers for fall 2023.

Please note: "Middle 50%" means that 25% of regularly admitted first-year students exceeded these ranges and 25% had scores and grade-point averages below these ranges. Rutgers conducts a holistic review of each student's application that takes into consideration many factors beyond test scores and cumulative grade-point average.

Download the Admissions Profile (PDF)

How Rutgers–New Brunswick Makes Decisions

Applicants are notified as soon as the admission decision process is complete. For qualified early action applicants, we guarantee notification by January 31. For qualified regular decision applicants, notification will be made by February 28.

Decisions are based upon a comprehensive review of each application. Primary emphasis is placed on the student’s academic promise, as demonstrated by:

• Completion of required high school 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/ACT scores (optional test score submission) 
• 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 is determined by the quality of the applicant pool, which changes from year to year and varies by college/school, and the space in the entering class. For more information, please refer to our admissions profile of previously admitted students.

Applications must be completed with all required credentials, and we review first the applications submitted by these due dates.

Early action applicants will receive one or more of the following notifications no later than January 31: admitted, not admitted, wait list, or deferred to regular decision. Students deferred to regular decision remain in the applicant pool for final notification no later than the end of February. Rutgers encourages students deferred to regular decision to update their Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) with senior year grades by the first week in February.

The Rutgers University Maximum Admission Consideration program allows applicants to be automatically considered for another Rutgers school if they are not admitted to the school selected on their application. This provides students the ability to attend Rutgers in a different location and, in many cases, complete a program in their major of choice and graduate with a prestigious Rutgers University degree.

How Rutgers–New Brunswick Makes Decisions

As with first-year applicants, transfer admission decisions are based upon a comprehensive review of each completed application. The number of students Rutgers can admit is determined by the available space in each class and the quality of the overall applicant pool, which changes from year to year and varies by school.

Transfer Student Handout (PDF)

Primary emphasis is placed on the student'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, and/or U.S. military service
• Employment history
• Special talents
• Essay

General Transfer Recommendations

• 24+ college-level academic credits completed by expected semester of entry
• 3.0+ cumulative GPA
• No grade declines in recent coursework (no grades of D or F within the last 12-15 credits completed and most recent term GPA ≥ 2.6)
• Any remedial coursework completed (not in progress) by application due date
• English Comp I completed or in progress by the application due date*
• College prep curriculum completed in high school
• New Jersey community college students are advised to follow the curriculum for their major at NJtransfer.org under “Transfer Programs.”
• Students not attending a NJ community college should view Rutgers Catalogs and follow the curriculum for their intended major.

Transfer students must be in good standing at their current/previous schools to be considered for admission, and are expected to have completed specific required high school subjects. If necessary, completed college courses may be used to satisfy high school course requirements.

The New Jersey State-Wide Transfer Agreement (PDF) provides additional information about transferring from a New Jersey community college.

View the admissions profile of previously admitted students.

This chart indicates the academic profile of admitted students, that is, the approximate SAT and ACT score ranges and grade-point averages for the middle 50% of high school students regularly admitted to Rutgers for fall 2023.

Please note: "Middle 50%" means that 25% of regularly admitted first-year students exceeded these ranges and 25% had scores and grade-point averages below these ranges. Rutgers conducts a holistic review of each student's application that takes into consideration many factors beyond test scores and cumulative grade-point average.

Download the Admissions Profile (PDF)

A student who is placed on the wait list has a strong application, but is not admissible at that time due to the limited number of seats available and the competitiveness of the applicant pool. We assess our enrollment to determine if we can admit students from the wait list. While we cannot guarantee admission, some students on the wait list have been admitted in recent years (see charts below).

I'm on the wait list ... Now what?

Students placed on the wait list are not ranked, however, we do prioritize students who provide updated grades.

• First year students should update their Rutgers Self-Reported Academic Record with their mid-year senior grades as soon as they are available.
• Transfer students should send us a transcript showing their final spring grades by no later than June 1. We will use that documentation to assess the student's status on the wait list.

Students placed on the wait list will receive a final decision by no later than August 1.

First-Year Students Admitted From Wait List

Transfer Students Admitted From Wait List

* Schools with less than 5 students wait listed each year were not included above.