Moderately selectiveProfile current for 2025-2026

Rutgers-Newark acceptance rate and admissions profile

Rutgers-Newark, a public university in New Jersey, reports a 71% acceptance rate and sits in the moderately selective band. In practice that means it admits more applicants than it rejects, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Use this page to see what Rutgers-Newark weighs, where it ranks among New Jersey schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1180, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
71%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1180
of admitted students
Type
Public
New Jersey
Selectivity in state
#10
of 20 in NJ
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Will I get into Rutgers-Newark?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Rutgers-Newark, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Rutgers-Newark?

Your odds at Rutgers-Newark are not the same as its 71% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Rutgers-Newark in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Rutgers-Newark hard to get into?

Rutgers-Newark is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 71% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Rutgers-Newark?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Rutgers-Newark, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Rutgers-Newark reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for Rutgers-Newark?

Rutgers-Newark does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1180. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Rutgers-Newark.

Calculate your chances at Rutgers-Newark

What Rutgers-Newark looks for

What Rutgers-Newark weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at Rutgers-Newark are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Rutgers-Newark's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Very important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Rutgers-Newark

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Rutgers-Newark
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1200 SAT →Colleges for a 24 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How Rutgers-Newark compares in New Jersey

Rutgers-Newark ranks #10 most selective of 20 schools in New Jersey in our database.

Among the 20 New Jersey schools we track, Rutgers-Newark ranks #10 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Princeton University (5%) and Stevens Institute of Technology (48%) sit nearby, which makes New Jersey a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Princeton University
5%acceptance · NJ
Stevens Institute of Technology
48%acceptance · NJ
Rutgers University
58%acceptance · NJ
The College of New Jersey
62%acceptance · NJ
New Jersey Institute of Technology
65%acceptance · NJ
Rutgers-Camden
66%acceptance · NJ
Drew University
68%acceptance · NJ
Caldwell University
71%acceptance · NJ
See all New Jersey schools →

Similar to Rutgers-Newark

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Rutgers-Newark often weigh University of Delaware, University of South Alabama, and Virginia Military Institute, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

University of Delaware
71%acceptance · DE
University of South Alabama
71%acceptance · AL
Virginia Military Institute
71%acceptance · VA
Western Illinois University
71%acceptance · IL
Henderson State University
71%acceptance · AR
Ramapo College
71%acceptance · NJ

Frequently asked questions

What does Rutgers-Newark value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Rutgers-Newark weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Rutgers-Newark favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Rutgers-Newark generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Rutgers-Newark?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Rutgers-Newark specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Rutgers-Newark?

Rutgers-Newark reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Is Rutgers-Newark test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Rutgers-Newark's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1180; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.