The Honors College is committed to expanding access to its courses, programming, and resources for students who are seeking enrichment and alternative pathways to educational success. To that end, we have a process through which rising sophomores from within Rutgers may apply to join, rising sophomores from other institutions (both Community Colleges and four-year institutions) may apply, as well as, beginning in 2027, rising juniors. Please read below for the processes and procedures for each category.
Admission into the Honors College for Rising Sophomores | Rutgers – New Brunswick (Internal Admission)
Rising Rutgers sophomores who wish to be considered for the Honors College in order to seek a more enriched and challenging curriculum and seek to become involved in our immersive community are invited to apply at the end of their first-year.
Successful applicants are those who not only have a cumulative GPA demonstrating academic success, but should also be heavily engaged in employment and/or extra- curricular and co-curricular activities, since their arrival at Rutgers.
After a successful first year, select high-achieving students will receive, in May, an invitation and notification on how to apply for admission to the Honors College as a continuing Rutgers student. However, a student who does not get an invitation to apply may also apply via the same process and will be equally considered.
While it changes from year-to-year, students who receive an invitation typically have at least a 3.80 cumulative GPA. We intend to invite students in the top 10% of the first-year class after completing a minimum of 24 credits hours (12 each semester) and spending a full year at the University.
Application Requirements
- an electronic copy of a student’s unofficial RU transcript,
- a personal statement/essay,
- an updated and recent resume, and
- one letter of recommendation from a Rutgers—New Brunswick faculty member
Statement on AI and Authentic Voice in Personal Statements
We want to "hear" your authentic voice. There will be a prompt on the application asking you to describe whether and how you used GenAI tools in preparing your application materials.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not admit rising-sophomores into Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (EMSOP) or Mason Gross School of the Arts (MGSA). This admission process is only open to students enrolled in School of Arts and Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, School of Engineering, and Rutgers Business School.
Admission into the Honors College for Students Transferring as Sophomores to Rutgers – New Brunswick
Students who are committed to attending Rutgers and are accepted as a Transfer Sophomore, who wish to be considered for the Honors College in order to seek a immersive community are invited to apply once they have accepted admission into Rutgers.
Successful applicants are those who not only have a cumulative GPA demonstrating academic success, but should also be heavily engaged in employment and/or extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, since their arrival at Rutgers.
Application Requirements
- an electronic copy of a student’s official institutional transcript(s),
- a personal statement/essay,
- an updated and recent resume, and
- one letter of recommendation from a collegiate-level faculty member
Statement on AI and Authentic Voice in Personal Statements
We want to "hear" your authentic voice. There will be a prompt on the application asking you to describe whether and how you used GenAI tools in preparing your application materials.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not admit rising-sophomores into Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (EMSOP) or Mason Gross School of the Arts (MGSA). This admission process is only open to students enrolled in School of Arts and Sciences, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, School of Engineering, and Rutgers Business School.
Admission into the Honors College for Rising Juniors and Juniors Transferring to Rutgers – New Brunswick
We are currently not accepting Junior admits from within or external to Rutgers. Please check back for a process slated to begin in 2027.