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University Finance and Administration

Fee Descriptions

Different fees may be applied to a student's term bill, some of which are mandatory while others are optional. Some fees vary by school affiliation, campus, and program. 

Mandatory Fees

Mandatory fees are required to support a wide range of programs, services, and facilities for Rutgers students that are not generally funded by tuition revenue. All fees listed below are charged per semester. 

 

The New Brunswick campus includes the traditional BS Nursing program and the School of Pharmacy. 

  • The Student Fee is charged to all full-time students at the New Brunswick*, Newark and Camden campuses to support a portion, but not all, student-centered activities including: student life, student government, recreation, health services, athletics, career counselling, tutoring and other programs that are integral to a vibrant student life and to successful academic careers. 

    These fees vary by campus and full-time or part-time student status. 

  • The Offsite Instructional Support Fee is mandatory only for a limited number of Rutgers students who are enrolled in offsite degree completion programs offered at some community colleges or other offsite locations.  In addition, the Offsite Instructional Support Fee is charged for some programs in continuing studies.   

    These fees vary by program and full-time or part-time student status.

  • The School Fee provides funding for additional costs that are unique to the needs and the operations of individual undergraduate and graduate schools and programs. In addition, the fee reflects the operation, maintenance, utilities and debt service associated with facilities utilized by each school or program and is charged at the New Brunswick*, Newark and Camden campuses. The school fees are identified by the school codes.

    These fees vary by school and full-time or part-time student status. 

  • The Technology Fee provides funding for student technology services that include network infrastructure and software that supports instructional activities.  It also helps to fund technology used in classrooms and labs for courses requiring computer interaction. The Technology Fee is charged at the New Brunswick*, Newark and Camden campuses. 

  • The Course Fee covers the cost of supplies, equipment, and materials used in classes for instructional purposes. The Course Fee does not include the cost of books. All registered students are responsible for paying the class’ associated course fee. If you are enrolled in multiple classes that each require payment of respective course fees, the sum of these fees will appear as a consolidated charge on your term bill. For more information on this fee, view the Rutgers University Course Fee Policy.

  • All F-1- and J-1-registered international students will be charged an International Student Fee (ISF) of $250 for each semester of enrollment at Rutgers. This fee is part of the cost of attending Rutgers and is applied to maintaining the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and other related services for international students. This will appear on your term bill as a $250 charge in the COURSE/OTHER category. 

    Rutgers TA/GAs/Fellows (whose tuition and fees are funded by tuition remission) are exempt from paying the fee.  

    Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS) fellows can request the removal of this fee by showing a copy of their fellowship offer letter to Student ABC. 

    F-2 and J-2 dependents pay a one-time ISF of $50 for a spouse and $25 per child. The fee must be paid by the primary F-1/J-1 visa holder at time of requesting the I-20/DS-2019 for each dependent. If you obtained the F-2/J-2 dependent documents as part of admission to Rutgers, you will need to pay the dependent ISF when you check in your dependent(s) at the appropriate international services office on your campus. An ISF payment will not be refunded retroactively for a previous semester. 

    For more information, please visit Rutgers Global.

  • All first-year, transfer, and international students in Camden and New Brunswick will be assessed a New Student Fee. This fee covers the cost of orientation and transition programs, resources for new students, and outreach programs for parents and family members designed to help new students and their families during the first year at Rutgers University. All new students are expected to attend orientation and transition events. This fee will be assessed regardless of attendance at orientation and transition events. 

    International graduate students holding F and J visas in Camden, Newark, and New Brunswick will be charged a new student fee as well.

  • This fee is charged to all Summer Session students to support student enhancement programs, services, and facilities, such as library, writing centers and labs, health services, recreation centers, student centers, student events and concerts, and campus buses, which complement and support the academic experience. This fee is only charged to students who register for the Summer Session. 

  • Each semester, a $75 fee is charged to students who join Douglass Residential College (DRC). The DRC provides special programming and resources to DRC students including traditional programs and events, student travel opportunities, and innovative teaching.

Optional Fees

  • Rutgers University requires all full-time and F and J visa-sponsored students to have comprehensive health insurance. Students are required to waive or enroll in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) each semester. 

  • The RU Book Advance program has been discontinued for the New Brunswick campus. This has been replaced by First Day, where digital course materials are made available to students directly from Canvas. If you are a student enrolled in a course participating in the First Day program (as indicated on the Web Registration System), you will see an additional charge on your term bill listed as “Digital Book Charge.” You can opt out of this program using the Course Material link in Canvas. View the Spring 2024 First Day Digital Book Table

  • If you are a full-time Rutgers University–Camden or Rutgers University–Newark student with a financial aid refund of greater than $500, $500 of your financial aid refund will be automatically transferred to a RU Book Advance Account for your convenience. This account can be used online or at your campus Barnes & Noble bookstore. Your RU Book Advance account will be automatically set up for you unless your financial aid refund is less than $500 or you decline to establish the book advance account.  

    Your $500 enrollment in the RU Book Advance appears as "Other Fees" under the charges section of your account. Refunds are also listed under the "Charges" section of your account. 

    To change your book advance status, take the following actions: 

    Step 1:  Log into your student account

    Step 2:  Select the RU Book Advance Status button to review your status. 

    Step 3:  The RU Book Advance Status page will appear and will show that you are automatically enrolled in the RU Book Advance. To change your status and opt out, select the second option. 

    • If you opt out of the book advance program before purchasing your books, a refund check of $500 will be processed. 

    • If you purchase books and spend less than $500, a refund check will be processed for the balance in about 3-4 business days.  

    • If you want the refund for the remaining balance to be processed faster, change your enrollment option to opt out; your refund will be available in about 2-3 business days. 

    Step 4: Select the Change Enrollment Option button at the bottom of the page. After this, your status will have been updated. 

  • New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) Student Chapters is a student-run, nonprofit, nonpartisan public interest organization founded in 1972. NJPIRG has a professional staff of researchers, scientists, and attorneys who work with students in the areas of environmental preservation, consumer protection, and open government. NJPIRG campus chapters are funded by a voluntary fee and adopted by student referendum. If you do not wish to pay this fee, you may deduct the NJPIRG amount from your balance due. Review the guide to waive NJPIRG fees. Please contact us immediately if you are unable to waive this fee on your online term bill. 

On-Campus Dining and Housing 

These charges will be included on the semester term bills for all students who choose to live on campus and/or dine at the university-operated dining facilities. Rutgers Dining Services and Residence Life services offer many choices for both meal plan contracts and on-campus housing. Meal plan rates vary depending on how many meals are contracted per semester. Housing costs vary for the many different dormitories and apartments available.