Rutgers University-Newark

Rutgers University-Newark is a public institution in Newark, New Jersey. It was founded in 1766 in New Brunswick, making it the eighth oldest college in the US. The university became a state university in 1945 and then merged with the former University of Newark. The campus is in the University Heights area of Newark and includes several schools and colleges, along with several research institutes. It is also the most diverse national university in the country. The university is organized into seven professional schools. Most of these schools are located on the Newark campus, while several are in Camden and New Brunswick.

The Rutgers University-Newark School of Nursing was ranked one of the top 20 graduate nursing schools. Seven nursing programs are offered at the school. The BSN options include traditional BSN, accelerated BSN, and RN to BSN programs. Other options include MSN, DNP, PhD, and BSN to PhD programs. The traditional BSN program is a four-year program, while the accelerated program allows students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field to earn their BSN in just 14-months. The RN to BSN program is for registered nurses that want to obtain their BSN. However, the school also provides options for registered nurses that want to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree.

Updated on: 26 Oct, 2025

Program Length & Format

14-month accelerated curriculum delivered over 4 semesters
63 credits of nursing coursework required at Rutgers
Full-time, in-person instruction at Newark campus
Classes generally held during daytime; clinicals scheduled day, evening, or weekends
Clinical partnerships with 200+ sites across New Jersey

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing field from a regionally accredited institution
First-degree cumulative GPA minimum: 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification for adult, child, infant, and AED
Completion of required prerequisite coursework prior to admission as specified

Entrance Exams

HESI Admission Assessment (HESI A2): Anatomy/Physiology and Math portions required for all students entering the program as a diagnostic during new student orientation
HESI A2 diagnostic results do not affect admission decisions

Prerequisites

Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab, undergraduate level, 4 credits
Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab, undergraduate level, 4 credits
Microbiology with Lab, undergraduate level, 4 credits
Organic Biochemistry or General Chemistry II, undergraduate level, 3 credits
Nutrition (course on nutrients and functions), undergraduate level, 3 credits
Statistics (descriptive and inferential), undergraduate level, 3 credits
Life Span: A Holistic Approach or Developmental Psychology (must cover newborn to elderly), undergraduate level, 3 credits
General Psychology, undergraduate level, 3 credits
Introduction to Sociology, undergraduate level, 3 credits
Grade requirements: C+ or higher for Life Span/Developmental Psychology and Nutrition; C or higher for all other prerequisites
All science prerequisites must be completed within 10 years of application
All four science prerequisite courses must be completed with grades prior to application submission
CLEP score of 50 or higher accepted for Introductory Psychology and Introductory Sociology only
Prerequisites may be completed online and across multiple 2- or 4-year regionally accredited colleges

Deadlines

Application open date for spring and summer admission: August 1
Spring admission application deadline: November 1
Summer admission application deadline: February 1
Spring admission decisions begin to be released in October; summer decisions begin to be released in February
Example: Spring 2026 applications accepted until November 1, 2025

Application

Online application required (application opens August 1 for each cycle)
Official transcripts required from all postsecondary institutions; electronic or postal submission accepted
Proof of bachelor’s degree required
Proof of current American Heart Association BLS certification required
Complete application with all transcripts typically receives an admission decision 4–6 weeks after deadline
Letters of recommendation are not required and will not be reviewed

Selection Process

Application review is a comprehensive process; meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission
Admission offers limited by available seats
Interviews are not required for admission

Cost & Financial Aid

Second-degree students qualify for financial aid
On-campus housing available to second-degree students

Clinical & Simulation Lab

Clinical placements through 200+ partnerships across New Jersey
Clinical scheduling may include day, evening, and weekend shifts
Students advised to have reliable transportation for clinical sites and potential travel to other campuses
Simulation center orientation included in academic orientation; HESI A2 administered during orientation
Clinical sites may require additional screenings such as drug testing or fingerprinting; criminal history background check required for clinical courses

Credit Transfer

Prerequisite credits may be accepted from multiple regionally accredited 2- or 4-year institutions
Nursing courses completed at another nursing school are not accepted for transfer

Contacts

Transcript mailing address: University Enrollment Services Admissions Processing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 65 Davidson Road, Room 308, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8097
RU-info phone: (732) 445-4636; Fax: (732) 445-8088
Clinical Clearance Voicemail: 972-972-8544
Office of Disability Services–Newark: Paul Robeson Campus Center 219, 350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Newark, NJ 07204; Phone: 973.353.5375
On-boarding contact for new student resources: Valeria Montoya (contact information provided to admitted students)