How to Apply to Psychology at Rutgers–New Brunswick: Apply to the School of Arts and Sciences, Declare Psychology After Two Courses, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Rutgers University–New Brunswick, psychology is taught by the Department of Psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), and every psychology major earns the same degree, the B.A. in Psychology. You apply to SAS and declare psychology after entry. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Rutgers’ official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Which school to apply to

• Apply to SAS: Rutgers–New Brunswick admits by school, and psychology is in SAS. You can use the Rutgers Application or the Common App; both require a short essay. The Common App needs no supplemental essays, though a short statement is required to be considered for honors.
• What Rutgers looks at: primarily academic promise: required high school subjects, strength of program, grades and trends, weighted GPA, rank when available, SAT/ACT (optional) and English results when required, plus the essay, activities, awards and talents. Letters of recommendation are not used.
• High school subjects for SAS: 4 years of English, 2 years of one foreign language, 3 years of math (including Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II), 2 years of science and 5 other academic courses, 16 in total.
• Middle 50% of SAS admits for fall 2026: SAT 1380–1520, ACT 30–34, high school GPA 3.7–4.2. For fall 2025, SAS received 51,155 first-year applications and enrolled 4,168 students.
• Maximum Admission Consideration: if you are not admitted to the school you chose, you are automatically considered for another Rutgers school or campus.

2. Psychology major requirements

• Declaring: complete General Psychology and Quantitative Methods (or an approved statistics equivalent) with a C or better.
• Major structure:
  • foundation courses: General Psychology, Quantitative Methods and one 4-credit content course with its lab (C or better);
  • four core courses, one each in behavioral and systems neuroscience, clinical, cognitive and social psychology, all within the SAS Department of Psychology;
  • six psychology electives (18 credits) and one 400-level elective;
  • at least a 2.0 GPA in psychology courses counting toward the major.
• Transfer limits: at most 12 transfer credits in psychology count toward the major, with no more than two electives (6 credits) from two-year institutions; at least 6 elective credits must be taken in the New Brunswick department.
• Honors major: a 3.4 GPA in psychology (including 6 credits of honors research), an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher and at least 47 psychology credits; you submit an honors proposal in the first week of senior year, take the honors seminar, and complete a thesis and poster.

3. Deadlines and decisions (Rutgers–New Brunswick, fall 2027)

• Early Action (non-binding): due 1 November 2026, decisions by 31 January 2027 (admit, deny, wait list or deferral to Regular Decision); reply by 1 May 2027.
• Regular Decision: due 1 December 2026, decisions by 28 February 2027; reply by 1 May.
• Scholarships and honors: apply by 1 December at the latest to be considered for honors and merit scholarships.
• After the due dates, schools still open may consider applications on a rolling, space-available basis.
• Application fee: $70, non-refundable.

4. Testing and English

• Test optional: SAT and ACT are optional at New Brunswick, and Rutgers says you still receive full consideration without them.
• English: required if your secondary schooling was outside the US in a country where English is not the principal language; scores must be within two years and sent by the testing agency. New Brunswick minimums:
  • TOEFL 79 for tests through 21 January 2026, or 4.5 on the new scale from 22 January 2026 (Home Edition accepted);
  • IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115, PTE 53, Michigan English Test 56, Cambridge B2;
  • or SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 550, or ACT English 21.
  Students from English-medium schools may request a case-by-case waiver by emailing RUinternational@admissions.rutgers.edu.
• Transcripts: students in international systems self-report courses, grades, GPA and rank in STARS; official documents are required on enrolment, with professional translations for documents not in English.
• Chinese and Canadian curricula: Rutgers publishes no Gaokao policy and no requirements specific to Canadian or BC curricula.

5. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 for non-New Jersey residents at New Brunswick (US$): tuition 36,831, fees 4,008, food and housing 21,943, on-campus total 62,782.
• F-1 and J-1 students pay the out-of-state rate and also face at least a $500 SEVIS administration fee, medical insurance and health fees, books and travel.
• International scholarships: all admitted international students on valid non-immigrant visas are automatically considered, with no separate application. Rutgers says these awards are limited and competitive and advises applying by the Early Action or Regular Decision date (1 December at the latest). First-year award notices start in early March.
• Renewal: first-year merit awards renew for three years with 24 credits a year and a 3.25 cumulative GPA.
• Visa funding: after accepting, you submit the International Student Financial Statement (ISFS) and a bank letter covering your first year.

6. Transfer students

• Who is a transfer: a high school graduate with 12 or more college credits from an accredited institution.
• Deadlines: fall 1 February (complete applications hear by 15 April; later ones are rolling), spring 1 October. SAS is open to international F-1 transfers for fall.
• Review: strength of program, grade trends, cumulative GPA, credits completed and English results. The middle 50% college GPA of SAS transfer admits for fall 2026 was 3.4–3.9.
• Documents: a high school transcript is required with fewer than 24 college credits, plus transcripts from every college attended; the application fee is $70.
• Credit: courses from accredited institutions with a C or better that match Rutgers courses transfer; up to 60 credits from two-year and 90 from four-year institutions. The psychology major’s 12-credit transfer limit still applies.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to SAS by 1 November (Early Action) or 1 December (Regular); apply by 1 December at the latest for scholarships
• TOEFL 4.5 (or 79 on the old scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115, sent by the testing agency
• Self-report grades in STARS; decide whether to submit SAT or ACT
• Budget about $62,782 a year on campus (2026-27), plus visa, insurance and other costs

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Same deadlines; Rutgers publishes no Canada-specific requirements
• If you attend an English-medium school, email to request an English test waiver

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 1 February with at least 12 college credits; send a high school transcript if you have fewer than 24
• Take General Psychology and statistics early, and remember that only 12 transferred psychology credits count toward the major

Sources: Rutgers University, Required credentials for international applicants; First-year applicants; Rutgers–New Brunswick dates and deadlines; How we make decisions and admissions profile; 2026-27 tuition and fees; Scholarships; Transfer students; Transfer applicant credentials; Psychology major and honors requirements. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Rutgers for the latest details.