In-state vs. out-of-state tuition at Rutgers
Rutgers charges $17,929 a year in published tuition and fees for New Jersey residents, about $8,964 a semester, and $37,441 a year for students from other states, about $18,720 a semester, a difference of $19,512. About 25% of first-year students came from out of state. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
What makes Rutgers different
- Several campuses in one. College Avenue, Busch, Livingston and Cook/Douglass each have their own feel, linked by a campus bus system.
- Between two big cities. Trains connect New Brunswick to New York City and Philadelphia for internships and weekends.
- History. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers is one of the nine colleges founded before the American Revolution.
What Rutgers students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): computer science (746), psychology (570), finance (490), biology (421), information science (385) and nursing (297). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Rutgers if…
- You want a big, diverse university with easy access to New York City.
- You're from New Jersey and want a large in-state option.
- You don't mind getting around a spread-out campus by bus.
Worth asking about
- Which campus would you live on, and how long are the bus rides between classes?
- How do students get into high-demand majors such as computer science or nursing?
How Rutgers compares with the other Big Ten schools
Rutgers is the Big Ten's easternmost school and closest to New York City. See how the 18 Big Ten schools differ.
FAQ
What is Rutgers' acceptance rate? 58.1% for fall 2024.
What is Rutgers' out-of-state acceptance rate? Federal data doesn't separate acceptance rates for in-state and out-of-state applicants. Rutgers admitted 58.1% of all applicants for fall 2024, and 25% of first-year students came from out of state. Out-of-state tuition and fees are $37,441 a year before aid; you may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships. Some universities publish their own in-state and out-of-state figures, so it's worth asking the Rutgers admissions office.
Is Rutgers in the Big Ten? Yes. Rutgers is one of the 18 Big Ten universities.
How much does Rutgers cost? Published tuition and fees are $17,929 a year in-state and $37,441 out-of-state, before any aid.
How much is Rutgers tuition per semester? About $8,964 a semester for New Jersey residents and $18,720 for out-of-state students, based on published yearly tuition and fees of $17,929 and $37,441 before aid.
Is Rutgers an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, Rutgers University-New Brunswick is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Rutgers? About 37,800 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Big, spread-out campus or something smaller?
Lens's assessments show which campus sizes and settings fit you. Start with Lens →