Acceptance Rate
66%
Avg. SAT
1300
75th percentile
“Rutgers-Camden packs Rutgers University's muscle into a scrappy urban campus where you rub shoulders with Philly across the river.”
Camden, NJ
Location
Small City
Campus Setting
You step into Rutgers University-Camden's story in 1927, when it launched as the South Jersey College for Women amid the Roaring Twenties, evolving into a co-ed public powerhouse by 1950 under the Rutgers banner—the youngest of the system's three regional campuses. What sets it apart is its no-frills grit: while New Brunswick buzzes with Big Ten frenzy and Newark flexes law prestige, Camden zeroes in on hands-on training for real-world hustlers. You thrive here if you're a first-gen commuter kid from South Jersey or Philly burbs, drawn to nursing shifts or courtroom battles rather than ivy-covered quads—pragmatic types who value affordability (in-state tuition under $13K) and proximity to urban action over rah-rah traditions. The school's personality shines as community-rooted and resilient, mirroring Camden's comeback from industrial decay.
Nestled in a small city on the Delaware River, just a bridge hop from Philadelphia's cheesesteaks and museums, Camden offers skyline views that remind you opportunity lurks nearby. But honesty check: the surrounding blocks carry a rough-edge rep for crime (though campus security is tight), and revitalization lags behind flashier neighbors—trade that for unbeatable access to internships at CHOP hospital or Eagles games, and you'll fit right in. Students who crave polished suburbia or endless tailgates might chafe here.
Photo Gallery
+20
+12
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Camden's classrooms, you dive into professional pipelines like the nation's 28th-ranked undergrad nursing program, where simulations mimic ER chaos, or criminal justice labs dissecting South Jersey cases. Business and public affairs draw crowds too, with AACSB accreditation ensuring your MBA-adjacent degree packs punch. That 12:1 student-faculty ratio translates to professors who know your name and nudge you into undergrad research on health inequities or urban policy—far more personal than Rutgers-New Brunswick's masses, though grad-level research heft trails bigger siblings.
Expect interactive seminars over massive lectures; poli sci debates rage with Philly's political pulse, and interdisciplinary tracks blend law with social work for future advocates. Tradeoff: fewer esoteric majors like classics mean you prioritize career launchers, suiting doers over dreamy theorists.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
3,857 undergrad • 1,818 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
41%
Black / African American
17%
Hispanic / Latino
19%
Asian
12%
Other / Multi-racial
11%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Camden, NJ
Varsity Athletics
A typical week at Rutgers-Camden kicks off with morning classes in river-view halls, afternoons hitting the ARC gym or study groups, and evenings commuting home or chilling in one of 15 residence halls that house about half the undergrads. The vibe skews collaborative and diverse—60% from NJ, heavy on first-gens and minorities—fueling over 130 clubs from Black Student Union block parties to mock trial showdowns. Social scene leans low-key: Raptor basketball games pack the gym, Scarlet Rallies unite the Rutgers fam, and Philly's bars or Sixers games fill weekends—no Greek life dominance, but inclusive mixers abound.
Residential life clusters freshmen in modern suites overlooking the waterfront, fostering bonds amid the urban hum. Positives include tight-knit support (think free counseling pods) and free SEPTA passes for city jaunts; challenges hit with humid Jersey summers, spotty nightlife on campus, and navigating Camden's edgier streets (safety escorts are standard). Commuters rule the rhythm, so you build your own scene.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
NCAA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
No
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
80%
4 Years Graduation Rate
63%
6 Years Graduation Rate
73%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$74,479
80% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Rutgers University-Camden and return in the fall. 63% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 73% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
63%
4-5 years
10%
6-8 years
2%
Non-grad
25%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$12,900
Acceptance
66%
Undergrads
3,857
4-Year Grad Rate
63%
Endowment
$83M
Camden, NJ 08102
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