RU-N to the TOP

In This Section

Overview: Fall 2022 & Beyond

This overview is for students who have been admitted, enrolled and matriculated into Rutgers University-Newark as a new student from Fall 2022 and beyond.

In 2016, the university established the Rutgers University–Newark Talent and Opportunity Pathways financial aid program, (RU-N to the TOP), for newly enrolled undergraduate students. The university expanded its reach of the RU-N to the TOP program for students who are newly admitted for fall 2022.  The expanded program continues to solidify our strategic plan and commitments to boundary-crossing scholarship, diverse talent cultivation, and engagement as an anchor institution. The RU-N to the TOP program enables us to build upon these commitments and recruit the most outstanding students from across the state of New Jersey.

The RU-N to the TOP program provides a “last-dollar” financial aid scholarship that covers the cost of in-state tuition and mandatory fees based on your AGI Tier. The scholarship is offered after all federal, state, institutional, internal/external scholarships and grants have been applied. Students must meet the program’s eligibility and income requirements.  There is no separate application that is required for this scholarship.

Newly admitted students for fall 2022 and beyond will automatically be considered with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) or the NJ Alternative Application if you are a NJ Dreamer. 

 

Updated FAFSA Priority Date Now March 15, 2024

Student Eligibility and Income Requirements:

All qualified undergraduate students must be an admitted, enrolled, and matriculated student at Rutgers University–Newark seeking the completion of their first bachelor’s degree. Eligible students must legally qualify for in-state tuition. Only in-state tuition and mandatory fees will be calculated into the RU-N to the TOP Scholarship offer.  Eligible students must qualify for in-state tuition and meet the following student, citizenship, and household income requirements:

Student Requirement

  1. A resident of New Jersey legally qualifying for in-state tuition per HESAA & University guidelines
  2. Newly admitted, enrolled and matriculated student for Fall 2022 and beyond
  3. Complete financial aid file (federal and/or state), which includes the submission of all requested final aid forms and documentation by the established deadlines.

Citizenship Requirements

  1. Be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National; or
  2. Be a U.S. permanent resident who has an I-151, I-551, or I-551c (Alien Registration Receipt Card); or
  3. Be a recipient of New Jersey S2479 (the Tuition Equality Act/NJ Dream Act)

Adjusted Gross Income Requirements

Students must have a household adjusted gross income (AGI) as laid out in the table below:

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)  Annual Net Cost - Tuition & Mandatory Fees
0-$65,000 $0
$65,001-$80,000 $3,000
$80,001-$100,000 $5,000

A student’s AGI for scholarship consideration is determined by the completion of the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application. The income responses will be evaluated based on the AGI table above. 

Applying for Financial Aid - U.S. Citizen OR U.S. Permanent Resident  

Consideration for the RU-N to the TOP financial aid program requires the submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Need help completing the FAFSA? 

Applying for Financial Aid - New Jersey Dreamers

The New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application allows NJ Dreamers enrolled in eligible New Jersey colleges and universities to apply for state financial aid. Consideration for the RU-N to the TOP program requires the submission of the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application. 

Who should complete this application?
New Jersey Alternative Application

Contact - NJ HESAA

Phone Number and Hours + Confidentiality Note

Checklist for Renewing Award Eligibility 

First and Second-Year Eligibility

RU-N to the TOP Scholarship will be awarded to first year and second-year students who have been admitted, enrolled, and matriculated into Rutgers University–Newark for fall 2022 and beyond.  The definitions of a first-year and second-year student are:

  • A first-year is defined as a student who has earned 0-30 credits
  • A second-year is defined as a student who has earned 31-59 credits

*Students who earn 60-128 credits may be eligible for Garden State Guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If your questions are not answered in the FAQ’s, please see the contact section for additional guidance.

How long can I receive the RU-N to the TOP financial aid scholarship?
Can I use the award to earn a second bachelor’s degree?
If I am transferring with some credits from another school, but have not received a degree, how long will I receive RU-N to the TOP?
If I transfer schools within Rutgers, do I remain eligible to receive RU-N to the TOP?
Can I use the RU-N to the TOP scholarship for summer or winter session courses?
What happens to the RU-N to the TOP scholarship if I withdraw from school?
If I have to take a semester off, how will this impact the RU-N to the TOP scholarship?
Is there a separate RU-N to the TOP application?
I was enrolled at RU-N prior to the fall 2022 semester. Can I receive the expanded RU-N to the TOP scholarship if I meet all of the other conditions of eligibility?
I am a transfer student. What documentation is required to determine my eligibility for the RU-N to the TOP scholarship?
If I attended another college before applying to Rutgers-Newark, am I still eligible for RU-N to the TOP?
Am I required to apply for financial aid every year?
What school charges are covered by the RU-N to the TOP scholarship?
What charges are not covered by RU-N to the TOP scholarship?
If I am in default on a Federal Student Aid Loan, can I receive RU-N to the TOP?
How do I renew the RU-N to TOP scholarship?
Do I have to be enrolled full-time to receive the RU-N to the TOP scholarship?
How does part-time enrollment affect my RU-N to the TOP scholarship?
If I am a transfer student who transferred in with 60-128 credits to Rutgers Newark or an approved offsite location, can I receive RU-N to the TOP?
Can I receive RU-N to the TOP as a non-matriculated student?
If I have taken classes at RU-N as a non-matriculated student, can I receive the scholarship if I am admitted and enroll as a matriculated student in an undergraduate program?
If I attended another university (other than Rutgers-Newark) after earning a degree from a NJCC, am I still eligible for RU-N to the TOP?
Am I eligible for RU-N to the TOP if my family and/or I have a negative Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)?

RU-N to the TOP Glossary

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
Defaulted (Loan)
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Full-Time Student
Last-dollar Scholarship
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Tuition and Mandatory Fees
NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application (NJ AFAA)

Key Contacts

Blumenthal Hall3rd Floor
249 University AvenueNewarkNJ07102

The Office of Financial Aid can assist with any questions in reference to federal, state and institutional aid.

Click here to contact us