Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers University-New Brunswick admits approximately 65.3% of applicants, meaning roughly 2 in 3 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places Rutgers in the moderately selective category, making it more accessible than highly competitive institutions while maintaining academic standards above open-access universities.

The peer median admission rate of 78.1% shows that Rutgers is notably more selective than typical four-year institutions, admitting 12.7 percentage points fewer applicants than comparable schools. This selectivity level means qualified students have reasonable prospects for admission, though strong academic preparation remains important for competitive consideration.

Students should view Rutgers as a target school if their academic credentials align with admitted student profiles, rather than a safety or reach option. The moderately selective admissions process allows Rutgers to maintain quality while serving a diverse student population, including significant shares of Pell-eligible, first-generation, and transfer students.

For students building comprehensive college lists, Rutgers represents an excellent middle-ground option between highly competitive research universities and more accessible state institutions. Applicants should prepare strong applications emphasizing academic achievement, but can approach the process with reasonable confidence if their qualifications match admitted student ranges.

Rutgers University-New Brunswick's published cost of attendance is $35,232 per year—that's $17,239 in-state tuition ($36,001 out-of-state), $14,715 for room and board, and $1,391 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $23,519 after financial aid, representing savings of $11,713 from the sticker price.

This net price exceeds the peer median of $15,590 by $7,929, indicating higher costs than comparable institutions. The financial aid system provides meaningful support across income levels, though middle and upper-income families face substantial out-of-pocket expenses.

New Jersey residents benefit from lower base tuition rates, while out-of-state students face significantly higher charges that impact affordability calculations. The university's location in an expensive metropolitan area contributes to higher room and board costs compared to institutions in lower-cost regions.

Despite above-peer pricing, strong graduate earnings of $74,479 help justify the investment through improved long-term financial outcomes. Students should carefully evaluate their family's financial capacity and consider in-state versus out-of-state pricing when making enrollment decisions.

The gap between sticker price and average net price demonstrates that published costs overstate actual expenses for most families, making financial aid applications essential for accurate cost assessment.

Rutgers graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth over their early careers, with median earnings rising from $61,263 six years after enrollment to $67,665 at eight years and $74,479 at ten years, representing 21.6% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on robust cohort sizes of over 12,000 graduates at each measurement point, providing high confidence in reported figures.

Graduates earn $5,251 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Rutgers in the 74.6th percentile for earnings uplift and demonstrating the university's value-added performance. Low-income graduates earn $73,900, ranking at the 95.8th percentile nationally and indicating exceptional mobility outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Earnings span from $49,127 at the 25th percentile to $107,416 at the 75th percentile, a 2.2:1 ratio reflecting differences in program choice and career trajectory. Approximately 27.3% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study with high confidence, indicating strong preparation for both advanced education and workforce entry.

Compared to peer institutions with a median of $60,543, Rutgers graduates earn $13,936 more annually, demonstrating competitive advantage in the labor market.

Rutgers offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for ranking analysis. Artificial Intelligence ranks #9 nationally and #1 in New Jersey, producing 572 graduates with median earnings of $114,399 and an exceptional value score of 96.0.

Electrical and Electronics Engineering ranks #5 nationally and #1 in New Jersey, graduating 265 students with median earnings of $119,602 and a value score of 98.0. Executive/Career Coaching ranks #4 nationally and #1 in New Jersey, graduating 544 students with median earnings of $67,413.

Biology, General ranks #13 nationally and #1 in New Jersey, with 436 graduates earning $56,996. Information Science/Studies ranks #5 nationally and #1 in New Jersey, graduating 409 students with median earnings of $81,920.

Behavioral Aspects of Health ranks #4 nationally and #1 in New Jersey, graduating 386 students with median earnings of $60,468. These rankings demonstrate Rutgers' particular strength in technology, engineering, health sciences, and business fields, with multiple programs achieving top-10 national recognition.