Rutgers University has become an increasingly popular university among college applicants for its strong academic reputation, commitment to research, and focus on experiential learning. Its close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia offers students cultural enrichment and professional opportunities.
If you are actively considering adding Rutgers University to your college list, here is an overview of what Rutgers University is known for and can offer you as an undergraduate student.
What is Rutgers University Known For?
Rutgers University is a public research university in New Jersey. Their main campus is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with two additional campuses in Newark and Camden. Rutgers University is the largest university in New Jersey and the oldest college in the United States, founded in 1766. Rutgers University has 45,000 undergraduate students, making it a large public university. Despite its size, Rutgers boasts a 15:1 student/faculty ratio and just shy of 40% of their classes enroll fewer than 20 students.
What Majors is Rutgers Known For?
Rutgers University is one of the highest ranked public universities in the nation, offering more than 150 different undergraduate majors across a variety of academic disciplines.
Business
The Rutgers Business School is consistently ranked among the top 50 undergraduate business schools in the nation. The undergraduate Business School offers 8 majors, including Accounting, Business Analytics and Information Technology, Finance, Management, Management Science and Information Systems, Marketing, and Supply Chain and Marketing Science. The Business School boasts 19 research centers across business disciplines, giving students many opportunities to get involved in innovative research during their undergraduate studies. On a 5 year average, 88.5% of graduates from Rutgers Business School have been employed within 3 months of graduation.
Psychology
Rutgers University’s Clinical Psychology program is ranked 25th in the nation, and their broader Psychology program is ranked among the top 50 psychology programs in the US. Rutgers offers 4 concentrations within their undergraduate Psychology program in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Social Psychology. Students may also pursue a minor in Developmental Psychology or additionally specialize in Health Psychology. The Psychology department hosts dozens of undergraduate-only research labs to give students hands-on experience in preparation for future graduate and doctoral studies.
Engineering
Rutgers’ Engineering School is focused on envisioning solutions that make the world better through engineering. With a Top 25 Industrial/Systems Engineering and multiple other engineering programs ranked in the top 50 nationally, Rutgers fulfills their goal successfully. The engineering program offers 12 undergraduate majors, as well as several combined BS/MS 5-year accelerated programs. Engineering students at Rutgers are encouraged to study abroad, with engineering-specific programs in Hong Kong, South Africa, and many other places around the world. Additionally, the Nicholas Engineering Students Project Studio gives students a space to conceptualize and build scale-size engineering projects.
Mathematics
Rutgers’ Discrete Mathematics program is ranked 7th in the country by US News and World Report. The Rutgers Mathematics department has among its faculty forty Fellows of the American Mathematical Society or Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, three members of the National Academy, and multiple winners of national teaching prizes. The Mathematics department offers 3 major tracks, including Standard Mathematics, The Honors Track, and the Actuarial Track. Students may also pursue interdisciplinary majors in Biomathematics and Statistics-Mathematics.
Finally, Rutgers offers 5 year BA/MA or MS programs in Statistics, Mathematics Education, Operations Research and Business Analytics, Mathematical Finance, and Industrial and Systems Engineering. The department also heads the Direct Reading Program, which pairs undergraduate students with graduate student mentors for semester-long independent study projects.
What Else is Rutgers Known For?
Social Mobility
Against all national universities, Rutgers ranks 36th in social mobility of its students and ranks second among other Big Ten colleges.
Scholarship
Rutgers University is known as a top producer of Fulbright Scholars. The Fulbright Scholars program provides grants for undergraduate and graduate students to study and research nationally and globally. Fulbrighters from the United States have achieved distinction in government, science, the arts, business, philanthropy, and education. Fulbright alumni have won 62 Nobel Peach Prize and 89 Pulitzer Prizes.
Employability
Times Higher Education ranked Rutgers 44th in the nation and #16 among public universities on their Graduate Employability list, which measures which universities are creating the most employable graduates.
What Does Rutgers Look For in the Admissions Process?
Academic Achievement
Rutgers University is known for being academically rigorous and looks for students who have performed well in their high school courses. Rutger’s admitted student profile shows that they look for students with a 3.7–4.3 GPA, an SAT score between 1300–1500, and an ACT score between 28–35. Rutgers also looks for upward trends in GPA, high school rank, and the strength of your academic program.
Course Requirements
Students applying to Rutgers must complete at least 16 credits in high school, including: 4 years of English, 2 years of one foreign language, 3 years of mathematics (including Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II), 2 years of science, and 5 other academic courses.
Other Factors
Rutgers also considers your personal essays, extracurricular activities, honors and awards, employment history, and other areas of involvement when making admissions decisions.
Ultimately, Rutgers uses a holistic review approach with a primary emphasis on academic promise to make an admissions decision. Students that want to gain admission to Rutgers University must show academic promise. They can do so by earning high grades and taking rigorous courses at the Honors, AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment level. They should also be involved in extracurricular activities that they are passionate about and take leadership in.
How Can I learn More About Rutgers?
Universities offer a wide variety of resources to help students learn more about their campus. Rutgers’ website is an excellent resource to start. Virtual and on-campus tours can also help students better understand a campus’ climate and “vibe”. Students should also reach out to their area’s admissions representative to ask any questions they may have about the university. Finally, social media accounts and YouTube videos can give students an insider’s look at a university they are interested in.
HelloCollege sends students to universities across the country; your HelloCollege counselor can connect you with current students for conversations about life on campus!
FAQ
Does Rutgers offer financial aid?
Yes, Rutgers offers financial aid in many different forms. Rutgers offers a number of merit and need-based scholarships, and students are also eligible for loans, grants, and work study offered through the FAFSA. Outside, private scholarships can also be used to offset the cost of tuition.
What is life like at Rutgers and New Brunswick, NJ?
Rutgers’ campus spans 2,688 acres, offering a number of things for students to do and enjoy. The Rutgers Garden and Rutgers Farm attract students and visitors alike for its pastoral scenery and cute animals. In New Brunswick, students flock to George Street, which hosts restaurants offering everything from sushi and steak to salad and shakes. Students also enjoy live comedy shows at The Stress Factory Comedy Club, live music at the State Theater, and even movies on-campus at Rutgers Cinema.
What is housing like at Rutgers?
Rutgers University has over 50 residence halls on its New Brunswick campus, serving over 16,000 students. These residencies are divided into 4 different “campuses” based on their location. Most first-year students will find themselves on Busch Campus in a traditional first-year dorm residence. Busch offers living-learning communities for students with an interest in STEM or health sciences. Douglass Campus is home to the Douglass Residential College, which offers women the opportunity to live in single-gender residence halls and apartments.
What can I get involved in at Rutgers?
Rutgers offers more than 500 student-run organizations on campus. Students can join academic clubs like Active Minds at Rutgers, professional clubs like the Consulting Club, personal interest clubs like the League of Legends Club, recreational sports clubs like the Badminton Club, and even a Seeing Eye Puppy Raising Club. Rutgers hosts a fair every fall to give students the opportunity to meet people from and sign up for clubs and organizations on campus.
Conclusion
Rutgers University is known for its top-notch academic programs, great location, engaging and active campus, and so much more. The best way to learn more about all that Rutgers can offer is by doing more research. A HelloCollege counselor can help you conduct more research and build a college list with schools that are similar to Rutgers University. Schedule a free consultation today and take the next step toward your future!
