Scarlet First
Scarlet First
Supporting First-Generation Excellence at Rutgers
The Educational Equity and Excellence Collaborative (E3C) at Rutgers University is a dedicated resource designed to support first-generation students and students from modest-income households.
Who is a First-Generation Student?
A first-generation college student is typically a student whose parents have not earned a four-year college degree. This definition also includes students who self-identify as having limited prior exposure to or knowledge of the college experience and may benefit from additional resources and support.
Number of First-Generation Students at Rutgers
National Transfer Student Week
From October 20–24, 2025, check out all the exciting events happening across Rutgers–New Brunswick to honor and celebrate our incredible transfer students. Don’t miss the chance to connect, have fun, and show your Scarlet pride!
Rutgers–Newark Earns Seal of Excelencia for Fostering Student Belonging and Success
Rutgers University–Newark has been awarded the Seal of Excelencia, becoming the only college or university in New Jersey to earn this rigorous, data-driven certification from Excelencia in Education.
U.S. News & World Report Ranks Rutgers-Newark #5 in Social Mobility For Second Year in a Row
For the second year in a row, Rutgers-Newark is #5 among universities nationwide for social mobility and #1 in New Jersey and the Northeast, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings. It also made the list of the Top #100 universities in America.
The social mobility index assesses how well schools enroll and graduate economically disadvantaged students with federal Pell Grants, which are awarded to those whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000.
Rutgers-Newark also climbed the list of national rankings, standing at #75 among all universities nationwide, up from #80 last year and #36 among top public universities, up from #39 last year.
Announcing the 2025 E3C Innovation Grant Awardees
We are proud to announce recipients of The 2025 E3C Innovation Grants. This year’s awardees represent a diverse and dynamic set of initiatives designed to support first-generation and modest-income students across Rutgers and beyond.
Each funded project reflects a deep commitment to advancing equity, building community partnerships, and improving student outcomes through innovative approaches.
