Scholarships for Current Students

Need-based Scholarships

All current students seeking need-based scholarships must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To receive maximum consideration for need-based scholarships, you should file the FAFSA by January 1. The online form can be accessed at www.fafsa.gov. Submit your FAFSA online or by mail. The earlier the U.S. Department of Education's Central Processing System receives the application, the sooner the financial aid process can begin. The FAFSA becomes available October 1 of each calendar year. If you submit the FAFSA by January 1, you should receive your online planning letter in June. We strongly encourage you to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to submit the correct tax information on the FAFSA.

School-Based Merit Scholarships

School-based merit scholarships (e.g. Dean's Promise, Chancellor's Promise, Dean's Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, etc.) are subject to specific renewal and eligibility criteria from year to year. It is a student's obligation to review, understand, and meet the renewal and eligiblity criteria associated with merit-based scholarship awards, including any and all residential requirements. 

Students should review their own scholarship eligibility and renewal criteria via ScarletHub. You may submit a school-based merit scholarship question to the Honors College, and staff will direct you to the appropriate office.

School-to-School Transfers within Rutgers-New Brunswick

Be aware that transferring between schools may have implications for your scholarship. Please contact your School-based Honors College Academic Advisor to review options and to discuss your academic standing and the possibility of a school-to-school transfer, and make sure you raise the matter of your scholarship. For students who have enrolled since Fall 2023, scholarships at Rutgers are school-based, and can be transferable.

However, students who arrived at Rutgers prior to fall 2023 are not guaranteed automatic transfer of scholarships between Schools. If you have maintained strong academic standing, most schools will attempt either to match the merit award they offered you prior to admission (if you applied to them initially) or to approximate the award you presently have in your current school. But there are no guarantees.

Likewise, students who received a scholarship from or who are seeking to transfer into Mason Gross School of the Arts will have to speak with MGSA before taking any action. 

Please note that these decisions are not automatic, and are made on a case-to-case basis by the schools.

Continuing Students with questions related to scholarships or school-to-school transfers must first speak with their School-based Honors College Academic Advisor. In consultation with the Advisor, you may also be directed to contact the scholarship representative for your specific school(s) from the list below. 
 

Honors College Scholarships and Grants

The Honors College has numerous merit, programmatic, and other scholarships available for currently enrolled students in good standing.

To be eligible and be considered in good standing, students must be 1) at least a sophomore (academic status), 2) making progress towards completing their Honors College academic requirements by holding at least a 3.25 cumulative and semester GPA, 3) be enrolled full-time, 4) current with their HC Serves Service Hour requirements (10 for each year in the program); and 5) be a student who has positively contributed to the Honors College community.

Scholarships will be awarded ranging from $500-$2500 in one of four categories: Capstone or advanced research or artistry; high financial need; enrollment in a study abroad or study away program, and in case of an emergency. 

Funds will be credited against any balance on a student’s account. Scholarships are awarded for the spring semester on the basis of a combination of merit and need. They may not be used in a term after a student’s graduation (including a trailing summer). 

Scholarship recipients will be required to write a letter of gratitude to the donor of their scholarship. The application process traditionally opens in December and the awards will be posted in January. If you are doing Capstone research or artistry in the fall or studying abroad for the fall, accommodations can be made to open the application process sooner.

Scholarships for Study Abroad and Other International Experiences

The Honors College offers three different scholarships supporting study abroad (see below). Students need only submit one application to be considered for all three scholarships. Application should be completed at least 2 months before the study abroad experience begins.