Rutgers University Tuition and Fees

Rutgers University Tuition

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      By Kelly Boyer Sagert

      (Last Updated – 08/2025)

      Total Cost of Attendance

      Rutgers University has the distinction of being one of the original colonial colleges, founded in 1766, before the U.S. became a nation. Today, Rutgers, which is the State University of New Jersey, is a leading public research university. Its main campus is located in New Brunswick.

      The cost of Rutgers University tuition is $17,929 for New Jersey in-state students and $37,441 for out-of-state students. This is higher than the national averages of $11,260 (in-state) and $29,150 (out-of-state) for tuition at public universities.

      Costs for 2024-25

      Expense

      In-State

      Out-of-State

      Tuition & Fees

      $17,929

      $37,441

      Books & Supplies

      $1,418

      $1,418

      Room & Board

      $15,714

      $15,714

      Other Expenses

      $4,458

      $4,458

      Total Cost of Attendance

      $39,519

      $59,031

      Financial Aid

      Nearly all students (93%) receive some form of financial aid to help pay for Rutgers tuition and fees. This may come as scholarships, grants, loans, or a combination of them.

      Explore financial aid options: New Jersey Student Loan & Scholarships.

      Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

      The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

      •  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

      •  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

      •  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

      •  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

      Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

      You can find other financial aid opportunities at sources such as:

      •  U.S. Department of Education – Learn more about the grants that are bestowed by the federal government

      •  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

      •  Scholarship Search Tool

      Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

      Private Student Loans

      At Rutgers, 42% of first-year students take out federal student loans, while just 7% take out private student loans, which average $18,794.

      Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations, so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

      What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school; with federal student loans, you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

      Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for as it generally may have better rates and terms.

      If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

      Recommended: A Complete Guide to Private Student Loans

      Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

      To attend Rutgers for four years, including tuition and fees, room and board, books, and other fees, the total would be $158,076 for in-state students, based on 2024-25 numbers. In comparison, the total for tuition and fees and room and board of the average public institution is $115,360 for four years, when calculated using 2023-24 figures.

      For students from out of state, the four-year degree price at Rutgers is $236,124. This is higher than the national average of $186,920.

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      Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

      Costs for 2024-25

      Expense

      In-State

      Out-of-State

      Tuition & Fees

      $17,929

      $37,441

      Room & Board

      $15,714

      $15,714

      Total

      $33,643

      $53,155

      Rutgers in-state tuition for first-year students was $17,929 for the 2024-25 school year, and out-of-state tuition was $37,441. Adding room and board costs of $15,714 to each, the total cost of attendance is $33,643 for in-state students and $53,155 for out-of-state.

      Graduate Tuition and Fees

      Costs for 2024-25

      Expense

      In-State

      Out-of-State

      Tuition

      $20,616

      $35,064

      Fees

      $2,625

      $2,625

      Total

      $23,241

      $37,689

      For students who go on to graduate school, the cost for Rutgers University tuition and fees for in-state students in 2024-25 was $23,241 and $37,689 for out-of-state students.

      There are many options for graduate loans that can help with these costs.

      Cost per Credit Hour

      For the 2025-2026 school year, part-time students from New Jersey pay $528 per credit hour, while those from other states pay $1,236 per credit hour.

      Campus Housing Expenses

      Costs for 2024-25

      Expense

      On Campus

      Off Campus

      Room & Board

      $15,714

      $1,689/mo*

      Other Expenses

      $4,458

      $4,458

      *Based on one-bedroom apartment pricing in 2025 near New Brunswick campus; figures from Places4Students.

      Rutgers University offers more than 50 housing options across its five New Brunswick campuses. There are traditional residence halls as well as living-learning communities where students with common interests such as business, psychology, or health and medicine can live and study together. Freshmen live on campus. For upperclassmen, there are apartments located within walking distance of the campuses. Rutgers has partnered with the Places4Students website to provide some listings of affordable housing for students.

      Rutgers University Acceptance Rate

      Fall 2023

      Number of Applications

      Number Accepted

      Percentage Accepted

      43,347

      28,176

      68%

      The Rutgers University acceptance rate is 65%. In fall 2023, 28,176 students were accepted. That makes the Rutgers acceptance rate high.

      Admission Requirements

      Here’s what’s required, and what’s recommended, to apply to Rutgers:

      Required:

      •  High school transcript

      •  Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) for current high school seniors

      •  Personal essay

      Recommended:

      •  SAT or ACT scores

      •  List of extracurricular activities, including volunteer work

      The deadline for Early Action is November 1, with a decision given by January 31. The deadline for Regular Decision is December 1, with a decision given by February 28.

      SAT and ACT Scores

      Rutgers University does not require test scores to be submitted with applications, though students can submit them for course placement or as supplemental information. Here are the average scores for the 25th and 75th percentile.

      Subject

      25th Percentile

      75th Percentile

      SAT Evidence-Based
      Reading/Writing

      630

      720

      SAT Math

      640

      760

      ACT Composite

      28

      33

      ACT English

      27

      34

      ACT Math

      26

      33

      Graduation Rate

      Rutgers students tend to take longer than four years to complete their coursework. Here are the Rutgers graduation rates:

      •  Four years: 71%

      •  Six years: 85%

      •  Eight years: 85%

      Post-Graduation Median Earnings

      After completing an undergraduate degree at Rutgers, you can expect to earn a median salary of $74,479 per year. This is higher than the national median of $53,727 for this type of college.

      Bottom Line

      Rutgers offers a quality education, and the Rutgers University acceptance rate is high. While tuition is slightly higher than the national average for public four-year schools, Rutgers is still fairly affordable, and there are plenty of financial aid options for students to explore.

      View your rate

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