Where Excellence Is Earned

Standing among the nation's leading research universities, Rutgers is acclaimed for the excellent achievements of our people and for their contributions to society in the pursuit of education, research, and health care.

Investment in a Rutgers Degree Pays Off

The results are in. Rutgers prepares students for success. Nine in ten participate in internships or other professional experiences—often leading to their first job. Six months out, nearly 90% are employed, furthering their education, serving in the military, or in a service program. With an average starting salary of $70,000, PayScale ranks Rutgers a top public university for the highest-paid early-career graduates.

That’s career success. That’s the value of a Rutgers education.

Rutgers graduates

Pioneering AI for Over 50 Years

Rutgers researchers have been working in the field of artificial intelligence decades before AI started to become a common part of our lives. In 1968 Saul Amarel, founder of Rutgers’ computer science department, wrote a paper about the technology that put him at the forefront of the AI movement. 

Today, Rutgers is still breaking ground in the AI field. Rutgers professors are teaching courses to prepare students to be the next generation of leaders in AI. Rutgers researchers are exploring ways to use AI to fight crime, improve cybersecurity and expand job opportunities for people with disabilities. They are also tackling legal guidelines and philosophical questions surrounding the future.

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Congratulations to the Twelve Rutgers Leaders

Recognized on the NJBIZ Power 50 Education List

They represent excellence in a broad range of areas that advance our university and our state, including administration, business, law, health care, labor, athletics, teaching, and research.

Rutgers Teaches Leaders the Power of Kindness

Coursework Shapes Tomorrow's Leaders

Students in Rutgers Master of Business and Science degree program learn to combine science and engineering with empathy and emotional intelligence—the soft skills that define the most effective leaders. They are challenged to perform five random acts of kindness and reflect on the impact, experiencing how seemingly small acts—helping a stranger, leaving an encouraging note, volunteering time—have a positive ripple effect. These future leaders will put the power of empathy to work alongside science, business, and innovation.

Rutgers Battles Addiction with Research

One in 5 people struggle with substance use disorder at some point in their life. Rutgers Addiction Research Center—the nation's largest comprehensive addiction research center—brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts to reinvent the prevention and treatment of addiction.

Rutgers Is Restoring Freedom and Championing Reform

The New Jersey Innocence Project at Rutgers University is fighting injustice and working on behalf of victims of wrongful conviction. Two innocent men imprisoned for decades were freed in the past year thanks to the project’s investigative and legal work. Additionally, the Rutgers team advocates for reforms to the legal system to reduce unjust convictions—and make our justice system fairer for all.

Rutgers Uses Data For Crime Prevention

To tackle this issue of rising violent crime, the Rutgers School of Criminal Justice developed risk terrain modeling to address areas of high crime without the need for over policing.

With national and international recognition, Rutgers has pioneered a unique approach to reimagining crime prevention. Rutgers' risk terrain modeling technology analyzes root crime causes in city landscapes to improve public safety outcomes.

The Rutgers-led Newark Public Safety Collaborative engages over 40 community organizations providing real world data and insights that empower them to make meaningful actions to reduce crime.

Rutgers' BEAST Is a Game Changer for Structural Tests

When a bridge is compromised, the transit impact and repair costs are substantial. The Rutgers Bridge Evaluation and Accelerated Structural Testing facility (BEAST) is the world’s only laboratory that gathers critical data on how extreme weather and heavy traffic weaken a bridge’s structural integrity—creating, in just one year, a decade’s worth of real-world wear and tear. Armed with this data, transportation departments can make better informed bridge management decisions, saving billions in infrastructure costs and keeping traffic flowing.

Rutgers Fosters Civic Engagement

Civic engagement is a critical component of education and a path toward appreciating our differences, restoring civil discourse, and serving the common good. Rutgers Scarlet Service provides Rutgers undergraduates from all campuses paid internships at government offices and public service-orientated nonprofits. 

Students gain hands-on experience addressing important issues while developing a better understanding of themselves and building relationships with others. The program began in 2022 with 100 students interning in and around the state of New Jersey and has grown in 2023 to include a cohort in Washington, D.C.

Preparing Tomorrow's Changemakers

Rutgers is redefining honors education. Recognized as a national model, the Rutgers Honors Living-Learning Community selects students who have not only achieved academic excellence but are also committed to creating a more just and equitable society. Addressing real problems in the local community, our scholars envision and implement actual solutions—making a difference right away. Through a curriculum designed to have an impact today, Rutgers HLLC scholars leave prepared to change tomorrow.