Acceptance Rate
71%
“Experience gritty urban ambition and powerhouse programs in criminal justice and business, steps from NYC in revitalizing Newark.”
Newark, NJ
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
You'll step into Rutgers University-Newark, forged in 1946 when Rutgers absorbed four local colleges—including the ambitious University of Newark founded by a YMCA in 1908—to create a powerhouse for working-class strivers. This campus pulses with the no-nonsense personality of its downtown Newark home: diverse, determined, and deeply connected to city life, where you'll navigate street art, food trucks, and the hum of PATH trains to Manhattan just 10 minutes away. Students who thrive here are first-generation go-getters, urban adventurers, and career laser-focusers who embrace the hustle; commuters make up most of the 9,700 undergrads, blending seamlessly with the growing residential crowd. But tradeoffs hit hard—no sprawling quads or ivy-covered romance, and the surrounding Newark, while buzzing with arts scenes at NJPAC and revitalized Brick City vibes, demands street smarts amid occasional grit and safety precautions.
Photo Gallery
+27
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In classrooms buzzing with perspectives from over 60% students of color, you'll tackle hands-on learning in Rutgers-Newark's standouts: the nation's top-ranked undergraduate criminal justice program, where future FBI agents dissect real cases; Rutgers Business School, a public sector leader pumping out finance pros for Wall Street; and nursing or public affairs tracks tied to city health crises and policy fights. The 13:1 student-faculty ratio delivers professors who know your name and push you into R1-level research, like urban data labs or jazz history archives, far more accessible than at massive flagships. Expect debate-heavy seminars over lectures, but honest tradeoffs include fewer esoteric majors—no engineering here (head to nearby NJIT)—and a practical bent that suits doers over dreamy theorists.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
7,989 undergrad • 3,326 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
25%
Black / African American
16%
Hispanic / Latino
28%
Asian
17%
Other / Multi-racial
13%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Newark, NJ
Varsity Athletics
A typical week mixes 8 a.m. lectures with evening commutes home or hangs in the Paul Robeson Campus Center, where you'll grab halal carts or join 150 clubs from debate to Dominican Students Association amid the most diverse Rutgers crowd. Social life thrives on basketball games at the Golden Dome, block parties during Welcome Week, and cheap thrills at nearby Prudential Center concerts; residential life in spots like 36 Madison packs 2,000 students into modern suites, building bonds over city explorations. The vibe is energetic and inclusive, fueled by traditions like Scarlet Pride Week, but challenges loom: commuter dominance means quieter weekends, parking wars, rainy NJ winters, and navigating Newark's urban edge requires group walks after dark—rewarded by authentic diversity you won't find on polished suburbs.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
NCAA
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
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
84%
4 Years Graduation Rate
52%
6 Years Graduation Rate
70%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$74,479
84% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Rutgers University-Newark and return in the fall. 52% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 70% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
52%
4-5 years
18%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
29%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$12,900
Acceptance
71%
Undergrads
7,989
4-Year Grad Rate
52%
Endowment
$229M
Newark, NJ 07102
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