Rutgers University–Newark: A Comprehensive Overview

Introduction

Rutgers University-Newark (RU-N) stands as one of the three regional campuses of Rutgers University, New Jersey's public land-grant research university. Situated in the heart of Newark, the state's largest city and cultural capital, RU-N is deeply intertwined with its urban environment. Its location is a defining influence, attracting a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff committed to academic excellence, impactful scholarship, and community engagement.

Historical Development

The roots of Rutgers-Newark trace back to 1908 with the establishment of the New Jersey Law School. Over the years, the New Jersey Law School, along with four other educational institutions in Newark-Dana College, the Newark Institute of Arts & Sciences, the Seth Boyden School of Business, and the Mercer Beasley School of Law-formed a series of alliances. A final merger in 1936 resulted in the establishment of the University of Newark. In 1945, the state legislature voted to make Rutgers University, then a private liberal arts college founded in 1766 in New Brunswick, into the state university. The following year, Rutgers merged with the former University of Newark (1936-1946), which then became the Rutgers-Newark campus. Rutgers, founded in 1766 in New Brunswick, is the eighth oldest college in the United States and a member of the Association of American Universities.

Former Names

New Jersey Law School (1908-1936)
Seth Boyden School of Business (1929-1936)
Dana College (1927-1936)
Newark Institute of Arts and Sciences (1909-1936)
Mercer Beasley School of Law (1926-1936)
University of Newark (1936-1946)

Campus Environment and Location

Rutgers-Newark is located on a 38-acre campus in Newark's University Heights neighborhood, within blocks of the commercial center of the city and near mass transit (bus, rail, and light rail stations). The university's urban setting provides students with valuable internship experiences and access to the cultural and economic opportunities of a major American city.

Academic Profile

Rutgers-Newark offers undergraduate (bachelors) and graduate (masters, doctoral) programs to more than 12,000 students. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities - High research activity". The university hosts seven degree-granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, including the School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers Business School (which has another campus in New Brunswick) and Rutgers Law School (which has another campus in Camden), and several research institutes, including the Institute of Jazz Studies. The Newark College of Arts and Sciences (NCAS) enrolls more than 60 percent of the undergraduates at Rutgers University in Newark and is the largest school on campus. Rutgers-Newark offers MA, MS, MFA, and Ph.D. degrees.

Key Academic Units

Newark College of Arts and Sciences (NCAS): The largest school on campus, enrolling over 60% of undergraduates.
Rutgers Business School-Newark and New Brunswick: Founded in 1929, offering undergraduate and graduate business programs on both the Newark and New Brunswick campuses.
School of Criminal Justice: A national and international center for scholarly research on all aspects of policing, delinquency, crime, and criminal justice administration.
School of Public Affairs and Administration
Rutgers Law School

Faculty and Research

As of 2022, Rutgers-Newark enrolls more than 12,000 students (more than 7,500 undergraduate, more than 3,500 graduate). There are more than 500 full-time faculty members at Rutgers-Newark, 99 percent of whom hold doctor of philosophy or juris doctor degrees. Faculty on the Newark campus include or have included Pulitzer Prize recipients and members of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the New York Academy of Medicine Fellow. A number of Rutgers-Newark faculty members have been awarded the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship and named as Fulbright Fellows.

Rutgers-Newark is committed to producing scholarship that makes a difference in the city, state, nation, and world. The university has several research institutes, including the Institute of Jazz Studies.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Rutgers University in Newark receives almost 17,000 freshman and transfer applications and enrolls about 1,700 new students each year. Admissions decisions are based on academic potential as demonstrated by grades, grade-point average, class rank and test scores as well as extracurricular activities and demonstrated leadership such as volunteer work, school clubs and organizations, community service and paid employment. Rutgers University-Newark accepts the Common Application and has a test-blind admissions policy.

We believe that a world-class education should be accessible to all students, so we work hard to make studying at Rutgers-Newark affordable. Seventy-seven percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $17,508. Typically, nearly 75 percent of the entering class received an offer of financial aid from Rutgers-Newark. Using a student's Free Application for Financial Student Aid, Rutgers develops a customized financial-aid package based on the student's qualifications, financial need, and funds available to the university. A financial aid package may include any or a combination of these major financial aid sources: gift aid (e.g., grants, scholarships, and awards), loans, and work-study.

Student Life

Rutgers-Newark offers a vibrant campus life with a variety of activities and organizations for students to get involved in. The campus is big enough that there’s always something happening and small enough so faces feel familiar. When you study at Rutgers-Newark, you’re part of the fabric of Newark. You get all the benefits of living in New Jersey’s largest and most dynamic city-from Arts District openings to valuable internship experiences.

Housing

Freshman students living on campus are assigned to Woodward Hall. These suite style accommodations are non-cooking and contain three double bedrooms, as well as a bathroom. Returning and transfer students under the age of 21 are assigned to University Square while returning and transfer students who are at least 21 years old are assigned to Talbott Apartments. Attached to Woodward Hall is Stonsby Commons & Eatery for residents who are on a meal plan.

Read also: ACT Requirements for Rutgers

Student Media

The Observer: Covering the Newark campus and surrounding University Heights community, founded in 1936.
Scarlet Magazine: A student magazine, founded in 2011, with early publications distributed monthly.
Encore: The student yearbook of the Rutgers Newark Campus.
WRNU: Radio station located in the Paul Robeson Campus Center.
The Newark Metro: A multimedia web magazine covering metropolitan life from Newark and North Jersey to New York City, produced by students at Rutgers-Newark.

Arts and Culture

The Paul Robeson Galleries (PRG) has an Artist in Residence (AiR) program open to visual artists who live or work within a 10-mile radius of Newark. It is a six months residency with a private studio located at Express Newark (EN), part of Rutgers University - Newark (it is in the former Hahne Department Store).

Safety and Security

Residence halls operate on electronic lock systems requiring card access 24 hours a day or are staffed 24 hours a day by security guards. Security cameras in residence halls, parking lots, and in other locations act as a deterrent to criminal behavior and serve as an investigative tool. Each year, the Division of Public Safety conducts workshops for students at orientation, in residence halls, and through “RU Safe” events, which are broadcast over the Rutgers television network.

Athletics

The Rutgers-Newark's athletic teams are called the Scarlet Raiders. The university is a member in the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) for most of its sports since the 1985-86 academic year; except men's volleyball, which the NJAC does not sponsor. Built in 1977, the Golden Dome Athletic Center is the hub of Rutgers-Newark athletics, seating 2,000.

Rankings and Recognition

Rutgers University-Newark is ranked No. #75 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. #5 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.

Commitment to Diversity and Community Engagement

Rutgers-Newark is committed to the physical and emotional health and wellbeing of our students. Our team of health care professionals provide comprehensive care from examinations, tests and vaccinations to counseling services for learning disabilities, addiction and more. Diversity is an enduring value and practice at RU-N. It enhances excellence of ideas, innovation, learning, teaching, civic dialogue, and engagement. In 2006, the university applied for classification as a "community engaged" university.

Financials

Endowment: $1.22 billion (2016, system-wide)Tuition for full-time, New Jersey residents attending Rutgers University in Newark is $10,954; for non-residents it is $25,732.The school's in-state tuition and fees are $18,112; out-of-state tuition and fees are $38,937.

Motto

Motto: Sol iustitiae et occidentem illustra
Motto in English: Sun of righteousness, shine upon the West also.

Leadership

Chancellor: Jeffrey Robinson (interim)
President: William F.

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