Explore Resources

Basic needs include, but are not limited to, food, housing, clothing, childcare, mental health, financial resources, and transportation. At some point in a college student's educational journey, they may face challenges in accessing adequate amounts of food, housing, financial, or other resources. This is called basic needs insecurity; millions of college students experience it yearly.

To ensure that basic needs are met for all Rutgers students, on-campus resources and those available in the surrounding community include: food, housing, and utility assistance; emergency aid; mental, physical, and spiritual wellness; internet and technology; child care resources; and faculty and staff resources.

Food and housing insecurity, as well as homelessness, often carry a significant stigma. If someone confides in you about facing these challenges, it's important to respond with compassion and understanding. You can refer them to the Offices of the Dean of Students or the Basic Needs Center at the College Ave Student Center. Students seeking assistance can also complete online forms for emergency grants, textbook/technology assistance, or housing insecurity. Additionally, you can suggest other available resources. Remember, your support and kindness can make a profound difference in someone's life.

We encourage you to also reach out to the Offices of the Dean of Students to share these concerns.

The office of the Dean of Students – Advocacy, Outreach & Support assists students experiencing unexpected challenges which impact academic performance, time to degree completion, finances, and their overall student experience. The office serves as a support network by providing advocacy, problem-solving strategies, resource referral, and critical incident intervention when additional assistance is needed.

Students may meet with a staff member during Virtual Drop-In Hours (Monday–Thursday, 1:30–4:30 p.m.) or scheduled appointments (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.). See Requesting Assistance to learn more about the best way to connect with the office, complete forms for Virtual Drop-In Hours, Scheduled Appointments, or Absence and Verification Notices.

Douglass Residential College is where academic excellence meets personal empowerment. As part of Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Douglass offers the best of both worlds: access to a top-tier research university and the support of a close-knit community.

Home to 2,500 students from across Rutgers–New Brunswick, Douglass welcomes all undergraduate students, regardless of sex or gender identity. Students at Douglass pursue a wide range of majors and career paths, united by a shared commitment to purposeful learning and leadership.

Douglass enhances your college experience by adding a feminist lens to your education—encouraging you to examine inequality, center women’s lived experiences, and grow as a confident, inclusive leader.

The Douglass curriculum ensures that every student graduates with a strong résumé of academic, professional, and co-curricular achievements—preparing you to succeed in the job market, graduate school, and beyond.

Enroll at Douglass

• The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, commonly referred to as FERPA or the Buckley amendment, is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student’s educational record. FERPA applies to all educational agencies or institutions that receive federal funding for any program administered by the Secretary of Education. FERPA also applies to private entities that contract to perform services for the University that it would otherwise undertake to perform on its own; in such cases, the private entity must observe the same FERPA protections applicable to the University.
• At Rutgers University, records, including progress, deficiencies, and grades may be released to parents only if they have been given access by the student, regardless of the age or tax status of the student. Students who wish to waive parts of this policy and allow their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to have more access to their information may do so via myGuest.

Applying for financial aid is free and easy via the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid funds, including student loans, are paid to the student's tuition account at the beginning of each semester, as long as verification is complete. Each disbursement will represent one-half of the amount awarded unless the student has requested and is eligible for a single term loan. In the case of a single term loan, the funds will be paid at the beginning of the term for which the student has requested the loan.

For students who are NJ Dreamers or not eligible to file the FAFSA, they may be eligible to complete the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application (NJAFAA).

Find Tips and Tutorials on the financial aid process and other resources.

With the generosity of donors, the Honors College provides a variety of merit, need-based, emergency, and special scholarships for students in good standing in the Honors College. To be considered in good standing, students must be making progress towards completing their Honors College academic and service requirements. Priority is given to students who have positively contributed to the Honors College community. Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000 for general support, special recognition, travel abroad, or other special opportunities. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of merit and need, and are layered on top of any scholarships or funding from the school of enrollment or university financial aid. This resource is available only to Honors College students.

Honors College students have access to a deep network of support at the Honors College to help them be as successful as possible. Staff and faculty are available to connect directly for student appointments. For details on how to contact Honors College staff and meet during office hours, please visit the Honors College Student Resources.

The One Stop Student Services Center (One Stop) at Rutgers University–New Brunswick represents an integrated and coordinated cross-functional service in the areas of financial aid, student accounts, and registration. Acting as a “single point of service” across these areas to promote a progressive, simplified, and consistent student experience and a culture that supports student satisfaction and success. The One Stop embraces a model that: 

• Prioritizes strong customer service and effective use of technology 
• Serves all student populations 
• Reflects best practices in higher education 
• Includes improving self-service options

Students may contact the One Stop in the following ways:

• Visit us in person at Dr. Samuel Dewitt Proctor Hall on Busch Campus 
  • Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-4:30pm 
  • Friday, 11am-4:30pm
• Call 848-445-4636 (INFO)
• Submit an email inquiry at go.rutgers.edu/contact-nb
• If you are a student at the Newark or Camden campuses, please visit go.rutgers.edu/onestop

All students at Rutgers University-New Brunswick receive an email copy of the One Stop Weekly every Tuesday via RAMS (Rutgers Automated Mail Service). This weekly e-newsletter provides timely and important information related to academics, health, safety, and finances. Students should make sure to check their spam filters and junk mail if they don't receive each Tuesday.

If you've been notified that you're not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and have the option to appeal, follow your school’s instructions to submit a SAP Appeal for Financial Aid Probation and work with your advisor to create an Academic SAP Plan to regain your financial aid eligibility. Submit by the SAP Deadline.

• Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
• Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
• Mason Gross School for the Arts
• Rutgers Business School
• School of Arts and Sciences
• School of Engineering
• School of Environmental and Biological Sciences
• School of Management and Labor Relations
• School of Nursing