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, a select and small group of rising juniors from NJ Community Colleges with Honors Programs. 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. 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 as a university student. This includes students who enter Rutgers for the first time in a Spring semester who have a full semester of university enrollment elsewhere.
However, a student who does not get an invitation to apply may also apply via the same process and will be equally considered.
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.
Application Dates and Steps
- May 25. Honors College Sophomore Application OPENS.
- June 15. Honors College Sophomore Application CLOSES. No exceptions will be made and late applications will NOT be accepted.
- July 15. Targeted Date for notification of Honors College Sophomore Decisions.
- August 1. Must accept offer of admission into Honors College.
- August 1 - September 1. Must meet with School-based Honors Advising Dean or Advisor to adjust schedule, as possible.
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 accepted into Rutgers as a Transfer Sophomore and who are committed to attending Rutgers, 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.
Application Dates and Steps
- February 1. PRIORITY deadline for application to Rutgers as a transfer student. You may apply at any time, but your application, decision, and intent to enroll must be completed by the deadline in Step 2.
- May 15. Must accept Rutgers' offer of admission and deposit.
- May 25. Honors College Transfer Application OPENS.
- June 15. Honors College Transfer Application CLOSES. No exceptions will be made and late applications will NOT be accepted.
- July 15. Targeted Date for notification of Honors College Sophomore Decisions.
- August 1. Must accept offer of admission into Honors College.
- August 1 - September 1. Must meet with School-based Honors Advising Dean or Advisor to adjust schedule, as possible.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not admit rising-sophomores into the Honors College for Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, and School of Management and Labor Relations. 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 Juniors Transferring to Rutgers – New Brunswick
We are currently not accepting Junior admits from external NJ Community College transfer students to Rutgers. Please check back for a process slated to begin in 2027.
Please note that this process will not be open to students already enrolled at Rutgers.