Rutgers Admission Requirements

8/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
New Brunswick, NJ
4.8 4 reviews

#19 Best Public Universities in America

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Rutgers Admission Overview

Rutgers admission requirements are competitive. Last year Rutgers admitted 58.1% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1310-1500 / ACT 28-33. Rutgers is test-optional, so you choose whether to send SAT or ACT. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Rutgers is test-optional for 2026-27. You choose whether to send SAT or ACT.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admissions.rutgers.edu/apply/first-year-applicants

Rutgers Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

58.1%

Admission Standards

Exceptional

Applicant Competition

Average

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The Rutgers acceptance rate is 58.1%. Last year, 39,899 of 68,614 applicants were admitted. That is the 5th lowest acceptance rate in New Jersey.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Rutgers and can you get accepted?

Rutgers is a competitive school to get into, turning away a substantial share of applicants. You have a good chance of acceptance if you meet last year's profile.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top quarter of their high school class. 21% of those admitted chose to enroll.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Rutgers GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.3*

Typical High School Grades

B+

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.3*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

Rutgers has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.3 GPA (B+) on a 4.0 scale, based on this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges. That is an estimate, not a school-reported average. Rutgers is test-optional. If you withhold SAT or ACT, GPA carries more weight.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.3 GPA range.

*3.3 is a CollegeSimply estimate, not a school-reported average. It is modeled from this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges.

Rutgers Test Policy

Test Submission Requirements

Rutgers University-New Brunswick is test-optional for first-year applicants through 2027. SAT or ACT scores are not required, and you receive full admission consideration if you omit them. If you send official scores from the testing agency, Rutgers University-New Brunswick reviews them as an extra credential and cannot ignore them once they arrive. The SAT essay and ACT writing section are not required. Enrolling students with SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing of 650 or higher or ACT reading of 28 or higher are exempt from the English placement exam.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admissions.rutgers.edu/apply/first-year-applicants

Rutgers SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1310-1500

Freshmen who sent SAT

50%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 650
Math 660
Composite 1310

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 730
Math 770
Composite 1500

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at Rutgers typically score around a 1410 SAT (middle 50% 1310–1500) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 96th percentile nationally. Rutgers ranks #3 in the state of New Jersey and #98 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1310 to 1500

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

SAT policy

Rutgers is test-optional. You choose whether to send SAT. If you send a score, it is considered.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1410 SAT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How SAT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares SAT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. It is not a personal chance of admission. If you withhold SAT, skip this table.

SAT ranges vs last year's enrolled testers at Rutgers University New Brunswick
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1500 and Above	Above 75th	>72%
1410 to 1500	Avg +	59%-72%
1310 to 1410	Avg -	42%-59%
Below 1310	Below mid-50	<42%

What do these figures mean?

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Rutgers ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

28-33

Freshmen reporting ACT

25th Percentile Scores

English 28
Math 26
Composite 28

75th Percentile Scores

English 35
Math 33
Composite 33

Average ACT

Incoming testers at Rutgers typically have around a 30 ACT (mid-50 28–33) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 93rd percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Rutgers places #4 among colleges in New Jersey and #141 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 28 to 33

1 9 18 27 36

ACT policy

You may apply to Rutgers without ACT. A score you do send is still reviewed.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 30.0 ACT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How ACT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares ACT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. They are not your individual odds. If you leave ACT off your application, you can skip this table.

ACT bands compared with last year's enrolled testers at Rutgers University New Brunswick
ACT Score (36 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
33 and Above	Above 75th	>75%
30 to 33	Avg +	58%-75%
28 to 30	Avg -	45%-58%
Below 28	Below mid-50	<45%

How to read these figures

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

High School Class Rank

Class Rank of Admitted Students

66% of Rutgers University New Brunswick freshman are in the top twenty five percent of their high school graduating class and 31% are in the top ten percent.

High School Class Rank for admitted Rutgers University New Brunswick students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	31%
Top 25% of class	66%
Top 50% of class	91%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Estimate How You Compare

See how your GPA and scores compare with last year's enrolled testers. You can mark that you will withhold scores.

Open the Rutgers chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

Rutgers University New Brunswick admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	35,948	32,652	68,614
Accepted	21,314	18,574	39,899
Acceptance Rate	59%	57%	58%
Enrolled	4,146	4,045	8,191
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	19%	22%	21%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Rutgers University New Brunswick and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Rutgers University New Brunswick application requirements
Requirement	Used for Admission
Test Scores	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
High School GPA	Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations	Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Demonstration of Competencies	Not considered for admission, even if submitted

Test scores: school admissions site, 2026-27. Other fields: IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Rutgers University New Brunswick is $70.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Credits Accepted

High school credits accepted at Rutgers University New Brunswick
Credit Type	Accepted
AP Credit	Yes
Dual Credit	Yes
Credit for Life Experiences	No

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Admission summary

Rutgers is test-optional for 2026-27. Last year it admitted 58.1% of applicants. Send SAT/ACT if you are at or above this campus mid-50 (1310-1500); otherwise withhold. Mid-50 scores, where shown, are enrolled testers, not cutoffs.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025