Scholarships

Merit Scholarships

To be considered for an honors-based merit scholarship you must apply to Rutgers–New Brunswick by December 1. and indicate on your application that you wish to apply for the Honors College. This will result in a prompt for second essay, specific to Honors College, which will also serve as your essay for merit scholarship consideration. There is no separate application for merit scholarships for prospective students.

NOTE: Considerations for additional scholarships or school-to-school transfers can only take place after you enroll.

Need-based Scholarships

All prospective 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 December 1. The online form can be accessed at studentaid.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 December 1, you should receive your online planning letter in mid-January. We strongly encourage you to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to submit the correct tax information on the FAFSA.

One Stop Student Services Center & Scarlet Hub

Students and families are encouraged to use our One Stop Student Services Center for all questions and concerns regarding scholarships, financial aid, need, merit, and other matters. They will be able to see your entire application, FAFSA documents, and potential aid awards. 

One Stop Student Services Center

Division of Enrollment Management
Rutgers University–New Brunswick

65 Davidson Road, Piscataway, NJ

P: 848.445.4636
W: scarlethub.rutgers.edu/contacts/new-brunswick/
Submit Inquiry using NetID

Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky

ScarletHub

The hub provides student information regarding financial aid, billing and payment, registration, records, admissions, and upcoming deadlines.

W: scarlethub.rutgers.edu

Honors College Scholarships 

The Honors College has numerous merit, programmatic, study abroad, 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 and class year status).
2. Making progress towards completing their Honors College academic requirements by holding at least a 3.25 cumulative and 3.25 semester GPA.
3. Enrolled full-time at the time of application and in the semester in which you receive the award.
4. Current with their HC Serves Service Hour requirements if applicable (10 for each year in the program). 
5. A student who has positively contributed to the Honors College community.
6. Pursuing the Honors College Scholar with Distinction designation for any research-related awards.
    

• Need-based, Study Abroad/ Study Away, and Research Awards

  To be considered for one of our scholarships (in three categories: need-based, study abroad or study away, or research) you must apply in the Fall Semester by October 1. 

  Please note, that this is the same application that you will use to apply for program-specific awards, including LGBTQ+ Learning Collaborative Study Abroad and Research Awards.

  In special circumstances, we may allow an off-cycle award for confirmed study abroad or research.

  For the 2025–2026 academic year, Honors College students (sophomores and above) from any major program of study are eligible and encouraged to apply. For further information and scholarship application, please use the following link:
   

  Honors College Scholarship Application | 2025-26
   

  Application opens September 15, 2025 and closes October 01, 2025 for a special round of additional scholarships.

   

• Emergency Funding

  If you experience an emergency situation where you are in need of immediate support and a quick infusion of funding, such as a medical emergency, theft, lost purse or wallet, injury or accident, or something of a similar nature, you may reach out to us for assistance by applying for our Honors College Emergency Fund grant.

  Please note: this is only for true emergencies; systemic changes in family income, sibling enrollment in college, failure to file the FAFSA, a late scholarship application, and other similar situations do not constitute emergencies. 

  The Emergency Funding application remains open year-round.

Rutgers Alumni Association Grants

The RAA Grants & Gifts committee is comprised of Rutgers alumni who are committed to understanding student groups’ needs and provide financial assistance that will have widespread impacts on Rutgers and its surrounding community. The committee along with the entire RAA Board of Directors in interested in building relationships with student groups and is deeply committed to the students of Rutgers who will soon be fellow alumni.

Once a year, either during the fall or spring semester,  Rutgers clubs and organizations are encouraged to submit grant applications along with their proposed budgets for consideration. The groups are then invited to present their applications in person before the committee to demonstrate how such financial assistance, if bestowed on their group project, can benefit the beloved community and beyond.

Please follow this link for the grant application: https://www.rutgersalumni.org/grants-gifts/

School-Based Merit Scholarships

Honors College students receive merit awards in alignment with admission to the Honors College and maintained based on specific criteria. Students who are having difficulty viewing their scholarships in their Financial Aid Portal or Term Bill can connect with their school's Scholarship Liaison or complete a Scholarship Concern Form  to be connected to the appropriate resource.

Transferring between schools may have implications for your scholarship. Students who arrived at Rutgers prior to Fall 2023 are not guaranteed automatic transfers of scholarships between schools. Similarly, students who received a scholarship from or are seeking a transfer into Mason Gross School of the Arts are not guaranteed a scholarship transfer. 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 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. 

One Stop Student Services Center & Scarlet Hub

Students and families are encouraged to use our One Stop Student Services Center for all questions and concerns regarding scholarships, financial aid, need, merit, and other matters. They will be able to see your entire application, FAFSA documents, and potential aid awards. 

One Stop Student Services Center

Division of Enrollment Management
Rutgers University–New Brunswick

65 Davidson Road, Piscataway, NJ

P: 848.445.4636
W: scarlethub.rutgers.edu/contacts/new-brunswick/
Submit Inquiry using NetID

Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky

ScarletHub

The hub provides student information regarding financial aid, billing and payment, registration, records, admissions, and upcoming deadlines.

W: scarlethub.rutgers.edu