Rutgers University Expands First-Generation Scholarship Fund by $40 Million

Rutgers University announced a $40 million expansion of its first-generation student scholarship fund, a move officials say will cover full tuition and fees for roughly 900 additional students across its New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden campuses beginning this fall.

The expansion builds on a smaller pilot program launched three years ago that covered about 250 students per year. University leadership says demand for the program has consistently outpaced available funding, with wait lists forming each admissions cycle.

"Every year we've had to turn away qualified students simply because the money ran out," said Rutgers Vice President for Enrollment Management Carla Objio. "This expansion means a first-generation student admitted to Rutgers this fall won't have to weigh their acceptance letter against a financial aid shortfall."

The fund is being financed through a combination of endowment growth, a bond restructuring that freed up operating capital, and a $12 million gift from a coalition of New Jersey-based corporate donors focused on workforce development. Recipients will also gain access to a dedicated advising program pairing each student with a faculty mentor and a peer mentor who previously completed the scholarship track.

University data shows first-generation students make up close to 30 percent of Rutgers' incoming class system-wide, with the highest concentration at the Newark and Camden campuses. Officials say they expect the expanded fund to raise first-generation graduation rates, which currently trail the university average by roughly eight percentage points.