Rutgers BOG OKs $5.9 billion budget for 2025-26, with 5% tuition hike for NJ students, but also expanded aid
Noting much uncertainty around federal funding from the Trump administration, Rutgers University has approved a $5.9 billion dollar budget for the 2025-26 school year that includes tuition increases across the board, but also aims to help students in need.
On the New Brunswick campus, that includes an expansion of the Scarlet Guarantee program, which – along with similar programs in Newark and Camden – help about 75 percent of Rutgers graduates with some sort of financial aid.
Rutgers will cover tuition gaps no longer covered by a state program, meaning for a new student with family adjusted growth income of between over $65,000 but under $80,000, students would pay no more than $3,000 in annual fees. Up to $100,000 would cap those costs at $5,000.
But for others, tuition will increase: five percent for in-state students, and six percent for those coming from out of state. That means typical New Jersey full-time arts and sciences undergraduate students would see an average increase of $711 for the year, sending tuition from $14,222 to $14,933. The average increase in mandatory fees will be another $185.
Out-of-state tuition would rise from $33,734 to $35,758, on average.
“The Board of Governors remains deeply committed to ensuring that Rutgers delivers a world-class education that is both accessible and affordable for our students,” Rutgers Board of Governors Char Amy L. Towers said in a release. “At the same time, we must address the significant fiscal challenges facing higher education nationally and take responsible steps to safeguard the university’s long-term financial health. This budget reflects a difficult but necessary balance between those goals.”
As far as where the money will be spent, more than three quarters is dedicated to the “university’s core mission of student instruction, support, scholarships, financial aid, public service, patient care, sponsored research and related programs. Operations, maintenance and administration will see 16 percent of the funding. About five percent will fund housing, dining and parking operations. Only three percent will fund intercollegiate athletics.
On the revenue side, nearly 28 percent of the budget is funded by tuition and fees, with about 18 percent coming from the state. In a record $58.8 billion dollar state budget approved in Trenton on June 30th, universities across New Jersey won a big battle, getting initially proposed cuts to higher education restored. That includes $65 million which will be headed to Rutgers.