Rutgers Pre-College Summer College Readiness Summer Academy

You move into the dorm on Sunday and check out on Saturday morning, and the days in between are filled with workshops, guest speakers and group projects, with meals eaten alongside your cohort in the dining halls. Rutgers doesn't publish a daily timetable for this academy.

Every evening has a supervised activity, such as a movie night, recreation or crafts. Most of the work happens during the day, although you may sometimes have a short reading or some project work in the evening. The week ends with a presentation, when each student shares a personal College Readiness Plan covering where they want to go, how they'll get there and how they'll succeed once they arrive.

Depending on the academy, Rutgers instructors are university faculty, graduate students, clinicians, researchers or professionals from the field. For College Readiness, Rutgers describes expert-led workshops and guest speakers from Admissions but doesn't name who leads them. It says many of its instructors have a lot of experience teaching high school and early-college students. Most academies have 25 to 30 students, which Rutgers says leaves room for discussion and one-on-one support.

You leave with the College Readiness Plan you present at the end of the week and a Rutgers Pre-College Digital Badge, issued through Accredible, which you can add to college applications, a resume or a LinkedIn profile. College Readiness is a non-credit academy, so there's no grade or Rutgers transcript to show for it.

Rutgers states plainly that taking part doesn't guarantee admission to Rutgers. It says the experience shows initiative and gives you material for applications, essays and interviews, but how much weight any college gives a digital badge is up to that college.

You need to be finishing 10th or 11th grade, aged 16 to 18 and already 16 before the summer, with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and good English. Rutgers gives a TOEFL score of 79, IELTS 6.5 or a Duolingo English Test score of 105 as benchmarks, and if you don't have a score it may arrange a phone or video interview instead. International students also need an F-1 or J-1 visa, a passport copy, proof of funding for the whole program and health insurance.

Rutgers doesn't publish an acceptance rate. It reviews applications as they come in and accepts students until the academy is full, then puts further qualified applicants on a waitlist. Once an academy fills, it stops taking applications even if the deadline hasn't passed, and Rutgers says applying early significantly increases your chances of a place. Decisions arrive by email within two or three weeks of a complete application.

• Online application

  Submitted through the Rutgers pre-college portal, where you choose the Pre-College Summer Academies option.

• Transcript

  At least two marking periods of grades, and an unofficial copy is fine.

• Essay

  Up to two paragraphs answering "Why do you want to attend the Rutgers Pre-College Summer Academy and what do you hope to learn?"

• Recommendation

  A letter from a teacher or anyone else who can speak to your educational or personal achievements. The recommender has to submit it, and your application isn't complete without it.

In 2026 the academy cost $2,899, the same for New Jersey residents and out-of-state students, and that covered the program and a week in a residence hall. Rutgers describes its residential academies as including dorm lodging and meals with your cohort. It hasn't published a 2027 price.

Once you're accepted, you confirm your place with a $500 deposit, and in 2026 the balance was due by 1 June 2026. The deposit is never refunded. Refunds of the rest are decided case by case, but Rutgers doesn't accept a scheduling conflict or a place on another program as a reason, and nothing at all comes back in the two weeks before the start. Emergencies can be raised in a written request, with no guarantee of approval.

International students also pay for a visa, so check that cost with the official source. They also have to buy health insurance through Rutgers, which it puts at about $60 for the week.

Rutgers says its academy team supervises students around the clock in the dorms, classrooms and activities, with Program Assistants and Resident Assistants on hand throughout. Students can't leave campus unsupervised for any reason, including food, errands or family visits. All staff who work with students fall under the university's Protection of Minors Policy, which requires background checks, training and the reporting of suspected abuse or neglect.

• Rooms

  Two students share each room in on-campus residence halls, with roommates usually grouped by academy, and you can name a preferred roommate although Rutgers can't promise it.

• Dietary needs

  Students with food allergies or medically necessary restrictions get pre-packaged meals from Rutgers Dining Services, labeled and collected at the dining hall each day.

• Rules

  Rutgers has zero tolerance for alcohol and drugs, on or off campus, and bullying or harassment can lead to dismissal.

• Before arrival

  Families are invited to a Zoom orientation a few weeks before move-in, and a student whose medical, dietary and housing forms aren't in by the deadline can't check in.