Because of its longstanding commitment to providing access to minority undergraduate and graduate students, Rutgers University-New Brunswick was ranked as one of Diverse’s Top 100 producers of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Of the 50,146 undergraduate and graduate students who attend the flagship state institution, 39.4 percent identify as White, 24.4 percent as Asian, 7.6 percent as African-American, 12.3 percent identify as Latino and 0.1 percent as Native American. In addition, 77 percent of undergraduate students receive financial aid.
“I think we are in a very unique situation being located where we are in the state of New Jersey, which is a very ethnically and culturally diverse state,” says Dr. Felicia McGinty, Rutgers’ executive vice chancellor for administration and planning. “But I think it’s more than that. It’s not just our location, it’s the fact that when students come here, they feel a sense of community because we really celebrate that diversity and make room for the multiple identities that our students bring here.”
The university’s new tagline, ‘There’s a U in Rutgers,” embodies the university’s initiative to be a more diverse and inclusive campus, according to university officials.
“Essentially we are saying come as you are and we will help you curate that experience,” says McGinty. “We want you to feel welcome and connected and so whoever you are, you are part of Rutgers.”
Through various initiatives such as the Rutgers Future Scholars and the Educational Opportunity Fund, Rutgers offers support to first-generation and low-income students.
As part of a pre-college initiative, Rutgers launched the Rutgers Future Scholars program for underserved middle school students in the New Brunswick, Piscataway, Newark and Camden areas. For five years, the selected students are provided with mentors and tutors. At the end of their high school career, if they are accepted into Rutgers, the students are given scholarship money that covers four years of their education, according to the program’s website.
