Tuition and Financial Aid

Excellent Education within Reach

As The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers strives to keep quality education within reach. To help eligible students afford a Rutgers education, the university offers scholarships, grants, student employment, information about loans, and tuition payment plans. With reasonable tuition and generous financial aid, Rutgers offers an educational investment that will pay off.

75%
Of first-year students received financial aid

2022-2023 data

$14,633
Average financial aid offer for first-year students
 

2022-2023 data

$99.2 Million
Aid awarded to first-year students

2022-2023 data

Rutgers students hanging out and chatting outside of Livingston Student Center

Cost of Attending Rutgers

Estimate your annual cost of attending Rutgers as an undergraduate with this quick tool that calculates tuition and fees for in-state and out-of-state students. 

Note: Tuition and fee rates shown are for the 2023–2024 academic year at one of three arts and sciences schools in Rutgers University. Please use the Net Price Calculator for your personalized cost of attendance.

Cost for Undergraduates

Understanding Tuition, Fees, and Other Costs of Attending Rutgers

Attending Rutgers, or any university, will have both direct and indirect costs, which typically include tuition, enrollment fees, housing expenses, costs for meal plans, books and class materials, transportation, and personal expenses. 

Tuition is the cost charged by the university for taking courses, and is often based on the number of credits you take.  At Rutgers, tuition varies based on school affiliation, campus, and program. After registering for courses, Rutgers issues students an online term bill each semester, which includes all tuition and fees. 

Term bills list the tuition, fees, and other costs due after deducting for credits for loans and financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and other items. Paying your term bill completes your enrollment for each semester. An interest-free payment plan option is available.

Shanrui Yu (SAS '22) and Jaqueline Sun (SAS '21) work together in the Druskin lounge of Honors College

Paying for Your Education

The most important step in the financial aid process is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).*

Completing the FAFSA annually is how students apply to receive federal grants, loans, merit-based scholarships from Rutgers, and work-study offers. FAFSA applications also determine if New Jersey students are eligible for state aid. All students are encouraged to submit a FAFSA every year.

It is typical for students to piece together the funds to attend college through a variety of sources. Many students at Rutgers receive some form of financial assistance through grants/scholarships, loans, and/or work study, and then use a combination of personal or family contributions or outside funding to make up the difference after financial aid.

*The FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year will be available in December, and the Rutgers priority filing deadline is March 15, 2024. The FAFSA process is being updated as a result of the FAFSA Simplification Act.

Note: Rutgers Health students must complete an additional application (other than the FAFSA) to be eligible for financial aid.

A person viewing the Rutgers website on a laptop

Access to Excellent Education

All eligible New Jersey students can attend Rutgers tuition-free for four years through a combination of university, federal and state financial aid programs.

Our R-UN to the Top, Bridging the Gap, and Scarlet Guarantee programs build on existing state and federal aid programs to enable in-state students with family incomes below $65,000 to attend the university tuition-free and to reduce tuition and fees for students with family incomes below $100,000. Rutgers makes a world-class education accessible and affordable.

  • $90M+ in federal Pell Grants to more than 17,700 Rutgers students, 2020–2021
  • 9,000 students received nearly $30 million in financial aid and emergency assistance through Scarlet Promise Grants
  • 75% of Rutgers students receive financial aid
  • 34% of 1st-year students are first-generation undergraduates
Max Morency (RBS ’22), Sarah Connely (RBS ’23), Michael Chyr (RBS ’23), and Damian Nikezi (RBS ’22) walk on Livingston Campus
Shanrui Yu (SAS '22) and Jaqueline Sun (SAS '21) work together in the Druskin lounge of Honors College
A person viewing the Rutgers website on a laptop
Max Morency (RBS ’22), Sarah Connely (RBS ’23), Michael Chyr (RBS ’23), and Damian Nikezi (RBS ’22) walk on Livingston Campus

The Scarlet Guarantee

The Scarlet Guarantee is a signature Rutgers–New Brunswick program designed to make college more accessible and affordable, offering a "last dollar" financial aid award that covers the cost of in-state tuition and mandatory fees.