Rowan University Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on October 4, 2026

What This Page Covers:

Tuition, housing, and average family net price
Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
Flagship and hidden-gem awards
Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

Acceptance Rate: ~77%
Middle 50% ACT: 23-30
Middle 50% SAT: 1100-1300
Average GPA: 3.4

🎯 How Rowan Actually Reads Applications

Rowan admits about three out of four applicants (17,152 of 22,410 for Fall 2025), and grades do most of the talking. Only about a quarter of the incoming class even sent SAT scores, and the average high school GPA was 3.4. Decisions roll out starting in mid-October. There is no early action or early decision, so the date that matters most is the scholarship deadline, not an admissions round.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Rowan University at a Glance

🏆 Tuition-free for NJ families earning up to $65K (ROP + Garden State Guarantee)

Average Net Price

$23,761/year (in-state estimate)

Average paid for residents.

Automatic Merit

Up to $8,500/yr out-of-state; in-state amounts vary

No separate application.

Scholarships Tracked

13 opportunities

2 automatic · 4 competitive · 6 hidden gem · 1 honors

Typical Qualifiers

Holistic: GPA and course rigor (tests optional)

Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.

Testing Policy

Test-optional (SAT superscored)

No superscore.

Key Deadlines

Priority: Jan 31 • FAFSA: Apr 15

Full-Tuition / Full-Ride

Edelman Scholars (need-based full ride); ROP and GSG tuition-free for NJ families up to $65K

Honors College

Honors Program Available

Financial Aid Forms

FAFSA Only

🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Rowan University (Read This First)

January 31 is the money deadline. There is no separate scholarship form. If the admission application (with transcripts) isn’t complete by January 31, your student isn’t reviewed for merit at all.
Test-optional really means optional here. Rowan doesn’t require SAT or ACT scores for merit consideration. If your student does send the SAT, Rowan superscores it (the ACT isn’t superscored).
Rowan doesn’t publish its merit amounts. There is no GPA grid. For a reality check, first-years without financial need who got Rowan merit averaged about $11,250 last year.
Out-of-state students can double up. The Brown & Gold Scholarship (up to $8,500 a year) is added on top of other merit, not swapped for it.
“Tuition-free” covers tuition and fees only. For New Jersey families earning up to $65,000, housing and meals (about $17,590) are still on you. So are the engineering and nursing fees of $1,500 per semester.
File the FAFSA by April 1. Miss New Jersey’s state aid deadline and your student can lose the Rowan Opportunity Program, Garden State Guarantee, TAG, and EOF in one shot. Rowan does not use the CSS Profile.
Scholarship money never turns into cash. Rowan’s own scholarships only pay tuition, fees, housing, and meal plans for fall and spring. Anything left over simply disappears.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Rowan University is test-optional for admission.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 23-30; SAT: 1100-1300.

Average net price? About $23,761/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No broad regional reciprocity path.

💰 Cost of Attendance at Rowan University: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Rowan University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $700 to $1,800 more than the in-state total below. $900 to $2,400 more than the out-of-state total below.

In-State: billed cost per year

$35,890

Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters

Tuition & mandatory fees	$18,300
Housing & meals (typical)	$17,590
Total billed cost	$35,890

Out-of-State: billed cost per year

$47,254

Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters

Tuition & mandatory fees	$29,664
Housing & meals (typical)	$17,590
Total billed cost	$47,254

That is $11,364 more per year than New Jersey residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.

Average federal net price: $23,761 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.

🔧 Engineering or Nursing? Add $3,000 a Year

Rowan charges a $1,500-per-semester differential fee for students in the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering and in nursing. That’s on top of the tuition shown above. It also isn’t covered by the Rowan Opportunity Program or the Garden State Guarantee, so even “tuition-free” families should budget for it.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Rowan University

How much more does Rowan cost for out-of-state students?
About $11,364 more a year in tuition and fees ($29,664 vs. $18,300 in 2026-2027). Housing and meals cost the same for everyone. The Brown & Gold Scholarship (up to $8,500 a year) is built to close most of that gap, which makes Rowan one of the friendlier public options for families outside New Jersey.

Can out-of-state students get in-state tuition at Rowan?
No. Rowan doesn’t take part in a regional tuition exchange, and there’s no broad out-of-state waiver. The discount comes through the Brown & Gold Scholarship instead, so applying before January 31 matters.

What does “tuition-free” at Rowan really cover?
Tuition and mandatory fees only. For New Jersey families with income (AGI) up to $65,000, the Rowan Opportunity Program (years one and two) and the Garden State Guarantee (years three and four) wipe out the tuition bill. Housing, meals, and program fees aren’t included. A student living on campus should still plan for about $17,590 a year in housing and meals.

Is the average net price really about $23,761?
Yes. That’s the federal average for in-state first-years who got grant aid (2023-2024 data). It swings a lot by income: families earning under $30,000 paid about $15,305, while families over $110,000 paid about $30,378. Run Rowan’s net price calculator to see where your family lands.

Why is Rowan’s official cost of attendance higher than the table above?
The table shows only what Rowan bills you. Rowan’s full 2026-2027 budget also counts books ($1,330), personal spending ($3,080), and transportation ($2,322 in-state, $2,922 out-of-state). That brings the official total to $42,666 in-state and $54,630 out-of-state. Those extra costs are real, but you won’t see them on the Rowan bill.

Does Rowan require the CSS Profile?
No. Rowan uses the FAFSA only (or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application for NJ Dreamers). Rowan suggests filing by April 1 so New Jersey state aid is processed in time.

Is there a way to finish faster and pay for fewer years?
Rowan runs a Degree in 3 option with a March 1 application and no fee. Cutting a full year of tuition, housing, and meals is one of the biggest savings available, so ask admissions which majors qualify.

Sources:
https://sites.rowan.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/annual-coa-2627.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/bursar/tuitionfees/2026-27-tuition-and-fees/2026-27-undergraduate-tuition-and-fees/
https://sites.rowan.edu/financial-aid/tuition-free/
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=184782
https://admissions.rowan.edu/admissions-process/app-calendar-fees.html

📅 Rowan Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

October: FAFSA opens. File early; it unlocks every New Jersey grant.
January 31: Complete admission application in for automatic merit (Rowan Scholars and Brown & Gold).
Early February to late February: Honors College invitations go to admitted students, and Honors applications are due at the end of the month.
March: Edelman Scholars and RIPPAC Leadership Corps invitations appear in the Applicant Status Portal.
April 1: Rowan’s recommended FAFSA date for New Jersey state aid and the tuition-free programs.
April 30: Edelman Scholars announced.

Parent rule of thumb: treat January 31 as your real deadline, even though Rowan keeps accepting applications into March.

Automatic Merit Scholarships at Rowan University

Every first-year who applies before January 31 is reviewed for merit at the same time as admission. No extra form. Rowan doesn’t publish a grid or require test scores, so the award is based on grades, course rigor, and how strong that year’s applicant pool is.

Find your student's tier

Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.

Residency

GPA (9th–11th)

ACT

SAT

Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.

Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.

State AidAutomatic⚠ Upperclassmen Onlygeopraphicneed based

Garden State Guarantee

📅 Deadline: April 1
✓ Renews (2 yrs)

Varies

✔ Stackable

⚠ New Jersey residents with family AGI up to $65,000, junior and senior years only; tuition and fees only.

🎓 Upperclassmen

✚

Stacking & Combining

Last-dollar: it pays after all other grants and scholarships. Housing, meals, and program-specific fees are not covered, and it cannot create a refund.

💡

Strategic Detail

New Jersey's state program for juniors and seniors (60 to 127 credits). For family AGI up to $65,000, tuition and mandatory fees net to $0 after other grants. Since Fall 2025, new awards only go to families in the $0 to $65,000 band.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: New Jersey residents (including NJ Dreamers) working on a first bachelor's degree, enrolled full-time with 60 to 127 credits, who meet the income limit. Up to four payments total.

State AidAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only

Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)

📅 Deadline: April 1
✓ Renews

Varies

✔ Stackable

⚠ New Jersey residents with financial need.

🎓 All Undergrad

✚

Stacking & Combining

Applied ahead of the Rowan Opportunity Program and Garden State Guarantee, which fill whatever tuition gap is left.

💡

Strategic Detail

New Jersey's main need-based grant for full-time undergraduates. The amount depends on financial need, cost of attendance, and state funding, and it is one of the grants applied before Rowan's tuition-free programs kick in.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Full-time New Jersey residents who show financial need on the FAFSA.

State AidApp Required

Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)

📅 Deadline: Apply early; seats are limited and filled first come
✓ Renews

Varies

✔ Stackable

⚠ New Jersey residents within the state EOF income scale; six-week summer institute required.

Holistic / Status Based

✚

Stacking & Combining

Combines with other financial aid.

📄

How to Apply

Select EOF in the admission application, then complete the EOF items in the Applicant Status Portal: the EOF supplemental application and a virtual EOF information session. Admitted EOF students attend a six-week Pre-College Institute the summer before first year.

Selection criteria: EOF eligibility

💡

Strategic Detail

New Jersey's Educational Opportunity Fund pairs a state grant with tutoring, advising, and mentoring for low-income, first-generation New Jersey students. At Rowan the program runs through ASCEND, and seats are limited.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: New Jersey residents (12 months) with family income inside the state EOF scale who are admitted as first-years and show academic promise.

State AidAutomatic

Governor's Urban Scholarship

📅 Deadline: Set by HESAA; check HESAA.org
✓ Renews

Varies

✔ Stackable

⚠ Residents of 33 designated New Jersey municipalities in the top 5% of their class.

🏫 3.0+ GPA

💡

Strategic Detail

A New Jersey merit scholarship for students in the top 5% of their high school class with at least a 3.0 GPA at the end of junior year who live in one of 33 designated New Jersey municipalities.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Top students from the 33 designated municipalities. Ask your high school counselor whether your town qualifies.

One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.

Automatic

Rowan University Scholars Program

📅 Deadline: January 31 · 📢 Results: With or shortly after the admission decision
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)

Varies

✔ Stackable

First-time students enrolling full-time in the fall semester.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Combines with need-based aid, New Jersey state grants, and outside scholarships. Out-of-state students can receive the Brown & Gold Scholarship on top of it. Like all Rowan institutional money, it only pays tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and meal plans, and any leftover does not come back as a refund.

💡

Strategic Detail

Rowan's main merit award for first-year students. There is no published grid: Rowan sets each amount based on the student's overall academic record, the strength of that year's applicant pool, and available funding. Awards are split evenly across eight fall and spring semesters.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Every admitted first-year with a complete application by January 31 is reviewed. Rowan does not publish GPA cutoffs or require test scores, so grades and course rigor carry the decision. For context, first-years without financial need who received Rowan merit averaged about $11,250 in the 2025-2026 Common Data Set.

Automatic

Brown & Gold Scholarship (Out-of-State)

📅 Deadline: January 31 · 📢 Results: With admission decision if awarded
✓ Renews (4 yrs)

$8,500/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Out-of-state students only.

Permanent residence outside New Jersey; full-time; fall entry.

✚

Stacking & Combining

Rowan combines Brown & Gold with other merit and need-based awards, so an out-of-state student can hold it alongside a Rowan University Scholars award. It only pays direct charges and cannot create a refund.

💡

Strategic Detail

Rowan's out-of-state merit award, worth up to $8,500 per year. It exists to narrow the gap between in-state and out-of-state tuition, which is about $11,364 a year in 2026-2027.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Full-time out-of-state students with a permanent home outside New Jersey who start in the fall and apply before January 31. Rowan sets the amount, and strong grades and course rigor drive it.

Data last verified Oct 4, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.

Note: Unlike many schools, Rowan lets out-of-state students hold the Brown & Gold Scholarship alongside other merit. Awards are split evenly across eight fall and spring semesters and can’t be used for summer or winter classes.

Automatic Merit FAQs (Rowan University)

What’s the deadline for Rowan’s automatic scholarships?
January 31. The full admission application, including transcripts, needs to be complete by then. Rowan has no early action round, so there’s no earlier “money date” to chase. Just don’t let January 31 slip.

How much is the Rowan University Scholars Program worth?
Rowan doesn’t publish amounts; each award is set individually. As a benchmark, first-years without financial need who received Rowan merit averaged about $11,250 a year in the latest Common Data Set.

Do we need SAT or ACT scores to get Rowan merit?
No. Rowan doesn’t require scores for merit consideration. Scores are only required for the 3+4 BS/MD and BS/DO programs and the 3+2 PA program. If your student does send the SAT, Rowan superscores it.

Can out-of-state students get both the Scholars award and Brown & Gold?
Yes. Rowan says it combines Brown & Gold (up to $8,500 a year) with other merit and need-based awards. That stacking is a big part of why Rowan can come close to in-state pricing for strong out-of-state students.

What does it take to keep the scholarship?
The Rowan University Scholars Program renews for four years with a 2.5 GPA. Brown & Gold can be kept for up to eight semesters as long as the student continues to meet eligibility. Check the award letter for the exact terms.

Does Rowan merit pay for anything besides tuition?
It can cover fees, on-campus housing, and meal plans too. But it never turns into a refund check, so a big outside scholarship can leave some Rowan money unused.

Sources:
https://admissions.rowan.edu/financing-education/scholarships.html
https://admissions.rowan.edu/financing-education/out-of-state.html
https://admissions.rowan.edu/admissions-process/freshman-requirements/standardized-scores.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/academic-affairs/ida/_docs/rowan_university_cds.pdf

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Rowan doesn’t run a big essay-and-interview flagship competition for top test scorers. Its biggest award, Edelman Scholars, is a need-based full ride for a handful of students. Most other competitive money is tied to a specific interest: politics, the arts, or donor scholarships once your student is enrolled.

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Rowan?

Aid Type	Stacks with Merit?	Rowan Parent Translation
Rowan Scholars + Brown & Gold	Yes	Out-of-state students can hold both. That’s unusual and worth knowing.
Edelman Scholars	Replaces	It covers everything left after state and federal grants, so other Rowan merit becomes moot.
RIPPAC and Arts Talent awards	Check letter	Rowan doesn’t publish replacement rules. Read the award letter before you count on both.
ROP / Garden State Guarantee	Last dollar	These fill whatever tuition gap is left after every other grant and scholarship.
Outside scholarships	Usually	For ROP and GSG families, outside money is counted first. It mostly shrinks the Rowan grant unless it pushes total aid past tuition and toward housing.

Bottom line: at Rowan, the competitive awards reward fit more than test scores. A first-gen communications major with need, a student who lives and breathes politics, or a strong musician has a real shot. A high scorer with no particular angle should count on automatic merit instead.

Full RideApp Requiredgeographicneed based

Edelman Scholars

📅 Deadline: Invitation only: invites in March, awards announced by April 30 · 📢 Results: By April 30
✓ Renews (4 yrs)

Full Ride

full cost of attendance plus graduation launch fund

✘ Not stackable

⚠ Incoming first-years admitted to an Edelman College communication or creative arts major who show financial need on the FAFSA; invitation only.

👥 ~About 6-7 per year winners/yr

✚

Stacking & Combining

A last-dollar package: federal and state grants apply first and Edelman covers the rest, so it replaces other Rowan merit rather than stacking on top.

📄

How to Apply

Not a public application. Rowan identifies eligible admitted students using FAFSA data, invites them in March to submit a short application and essay, and finalists interview with the selection committee. Awards are announced by April 30.

✎ Essays🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event

💡

Strategic Detail

Covers tuition, fees, books, housing, and meals for four years after state and federal grants are applied, plus a $17,000 launch payment for students who graduate in four years. Funded by a $10 million endowment from alumni Ric and Jean Edelman.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: About six or seven need-qualified first-years per year who are admitted to a communication or creative arts major in the Ric Edelman College and interview well. The committee looks for potential to contribute to the college.

App Required

RIPPAC Leadership Corps

📅 Deadline: Invites mid-to-late March; applications usually due mid-June
✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)

$3,000/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ Domestic students only; requires four internships and yearly RIPPAC leadership participation.

🏫 3.0+ GPA

✚

Stacking & Combining

Rowan does not list it as replacing other awards. Confirm on the award letter.

📄

How to Apply

Check the Events & Invitations page of the Rowan Applicant Status Portal. Eligible admitted students see an invitation there, usually in mid-to-late March, with applications due around mid-June.

Selection criteria: Public service and engagement

💡

Strategic Detail

$12,000 total ($3,000 a year for four years) for incoming students committed to politics, government, or issue advocacy. Recipients complete four internships in those fields with RIPPAC's help and take a leadership role in RIPPAC events.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Domestic students with at least a 3.0 high school GPA who are serious about politics or government. Any major is welcome, but it is not a fit for 3+4 medical or 4+1 accelerated degree students.

App Required

College of the Arts Talent Scholarships

📅 Deadline: Audition and portfolio dates vary; schedule early in the Applicant Status Portal
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)

Varies

✔ Stackable

⚠ Art, music, theatre, and dance majors only.

Holistic / Status Based

✚

Stacking & Combining

Rowan does not publish replacement rules. Confirm how it combines with merit on the award letter.

📄

How to Apply

Apply for admission, then schedule the audition (music, theatre, dance) or submit the portfolio (art) through the Applicant Status Portal.

💡

Strategic Detail

Talent awards for incoming art, music, theatre, and dance majors, decided through the required audition or portfolio review. Rowan does not publish amounts.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Students admitted to art, music, theatre, or dance who stand out in the audition or portfolio. Renewal requires a 2.5 GPA in music, theatre, and dance or a 3.0 in art, for up to eight semesters.

App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only

Rowan University Foundation Scholarships

📅 Deadline: Varies by award; check Scholarship Universe each year
Non-Renewable

Varies

✔ Stackable

⚠ For currently enrolled Rowan students.

🎓 All Undergrad

✚

Stacking & Combining

Generally combines with merit and need-based aid unless a specific donor's terms say otherwise.

📄

How to Apply

Once enrolled, log in to Scholarship Universe with a Rowan Network ID, complete the profile and matching questions, then apply to each matched award inside the platform.

✎ Essays

💡

Strategic Detail

Rowan's donor-funded scholarships, matched and applied for through Scholarship Universe. More than 200 awards for all majors and backgrounds, and the Rowan University Foundation awarded over $4.2 million in 2024. These are for students already enrolled at Rowan, so plan on this money starting sophomore year.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Students who answer every matching question in Scholarship Universe and apply to many awards, not just one. Some awards are decided on profile answers alone; others ask for an essay or a reference.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

Does Rowan offer a full-ride scholarship?
Yes: Edelman Scholars. It covers tuition, fees, books, housing, and meals for four years after grants, plus a $17,000 bonus for graduating in four years. It goes to about six or seven students a year who have financial need and are admitted to a communication or creative arts major in the Ric Edelman College.

How does a student apply for Edelman Scholars?
They can’t apply cold. Rowan uses FAFSA data to find eligible admitted students and invites them in March to send a short application and essay. Finalists interview, and awards are announced by April 30. The one thing families control is filing the FAFSA early.

What is the RIPPAC Leadership Corps Scholarship?
$12,000 over four years ($3,000 a year) for students headed toward politics or government. Recipients complete four internships with help from Rowan’s public policy institute. It’s invitation-only through the Applicant Status Portal for domestic students with at least a 3.0 high school GPA. Invites usually go out in mid-to-late March.

Are there scholarships for art, music, theatre, or dance majors?
Yes. The required audition or portfolio review also decides talent scholarships. They renew with a 2.5 GPA (music, theatre, dance) or 3.0 (art). Schedule the audition early in the Applicant Status Portal.

When can my student apply for Rowan Foundation scholarships?
Once they’re enrolled. Scholarship Universe is for current students, and the Foundation awarded more than $4.2 million in 2024 across 200+ scholarships. Mark it on the calendar for freshman year so sophomore year gets some help.

Sources:
https://www.rowan.edu/ric-edelman-college/edelman-scholars/
https://today.rowan.edu/news/2023/09/edelmans-meet-needs,-reward-merit-and-motivate-six-students-with-17k-bonus.html
https://www.rowan.edu/ric-edelman-college/centers/rippac/scholarships/rippac-leadership-corps.html
https://admissions.rowan.edu/financing-education/scholarships.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/financial-aid/paying-for-college/scholarships/continuing-students.html

🧠 Parent Strategy: At Rowan, the FAFSA Is the Scholarship Application

For New Jersey families, most of Rowan’s biggest money (ROP, the Garden State Guarantee, TAG, EOF, even Edelman) is triggered by the FAFSA, not by an essay. Here’s the order that keeps every door open:

File the FAFSA (or NJ Alternative Application) by April 1, every year.
Log in to NJFAMS at HESAA and clear any state to-do items. Missing documents can cost the tuition-free programs.
Check the Events & Invitations page in the Rowan Applicant Status Portal all spring. RIPPAC, Honors, and RISE invitations show up there.
First-generation or limited income? Look at EOF and RISE before the summer.
Once enrolled, build a full Scholarship Universe profile for sophomore-year money.

Parent translation: skip the state aid steps and you can lose a $0 tuition bill over a missing form.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

These awards aren’t automatic merit, and many are limited to New Jersey residents, first-gen students, or certain majors. For the families who fit, they’re often worth more than any merit scholarship.

Full TuitionAutomaticgeographicneed based

Rowan Opportunity Program (ROP)

📅 Deadline: April 1
✓ Renews (2 yrs)

Full Tuition

last-dollar tuition/fee grant

✔ Stackable

⚠ New Jersey residents with family AGI up to $80,000; covers tuition and mandatory fees, not housing or meals.

Holistic / Status Based

✚

Stacking & Combining

Last-dollar: it pays after Pell, TAG, and Rowan scholarships and fills the remaining tuition gap. It does not cover housing, meals, or program fees such as the engineering and nursing differential fees, and it cannot create a refund.

💡

Strategic Detail

For New Jersey families with adjusted gross income up to $65,000, Rowan covers whatever tuition and mandatory fees remain after all other grants and scholarships, so the net tuition bill is $0. Families with AGI from $65,001 to $80,000 pay no more than $7,500 a year in tuition and fees. Covers students with fewer than 60 credits (roughly the first two years).

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: New Jersey residents (including NJ Dreamers) enrolled full-time with fewer than 60 credits whose families meet the income limits. No GPA requirement beyond satisfactory academic progress.

App Required

ASCEND RISE Program (First-Generation)

📅 Deadline: By invitation after the admission application
✓ Renews

Varies

✔ Stackable

⚠ First-generation students only; six-week summer institute required.

Holistic / Status Based

📄

How to Apply

Submit the Rowan admission application with supporting documents, then respond to the RISE invitation email with a 500-word essay. RISE students attend the ASCEND six-week Pre-College Institute.

💡

Strategic Detail

A Rowan scholarship program for highly motivated first-generation college students, run through the ASCEND office. Unlike EOF, there are no income requirements.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

First-generation students (neither parent finished a bachelor's degree) who respond to Rowan's RISE invitation with a strong essay.

App Required

NJBEST 529 Scholarship

📅 Deadline: Apply through HESAA after using NJBEST savings for qualified expenses
Non-Renewable

$6,000

✔ Stackable

⚠ Beneficiaries of an NJBEST 529 account only.

Holistic / Status Based

📄

How to Apply

Use NJBEST 529 money for qualified Rowan expenses, then apply for the scholarship through HESAA.

💡

Strategic Detail

A one-time, tax-free scholarship of up to $6,000 for students whose families saved in an NJBEST 529 plan and use those savings at a New Jersey school like Rowan.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Any student who is the beneficiary of an NJBEST 529 account and uses those funds for qualified expenses at a New Jersey college.

Automatic

International Student Merit Scholarship

📅 Deadline: March 1 · 📢 Results: Via application portal or email if awarded
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA)

$1,000–$19,000/yr

✔ Stackable

⚠ International students on a non-immigrant visa only.

Holistic / Status Based

✚

Stacking & Combining

Split evenly between fall and spring and applied only to tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and meals. Leftover funds are not refunded.

💡

Strategic Detail

Merit awards from $1,000 to $19,000 per year for admitted international first-years and transfers on a non-immigrant visa. No separate application.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Admitted international students with strong academic records. Amounts depend on the applicant pool and available funding.

App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only

Study Abroad Exchange Scholarships

📅 Deadline: November 1 for spring programs; April 12 for fall programs
Non-Renewable

$1,000–$2,000

✔ Stackable

⚠ Need-based; 3.0 GPA; specific exchange programs only.

🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad

📄

How to Apply

Apply through the Rowan Abroad portal by the deadline. Late applications are not accepted.

Selection criteria: Academic fit and plan

💡

Strategic Detail

Grants of up to $1,000 to $2,000 per semester (plus one round-trip airfare award) for specific Rowan exchange partners, including schools in New Zealand, the UK, France, South Korea, Japan, Peru, and Spain.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Most winners: Full-time undergraduates in good standing with at least a 3.0 GPA who receive need-based aid or can show verified need.

App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP)

📅 Deadline: Applications open January 19, 2027; faculty select students in late February and early March
Non-Renewable

$2,000–$4,000

✔ Stackable

⚠ Science, math, and earth and environment majors only.

🎓 All Undergrad

📄

How to Apply

Apply online during the spring window and name faculty or projects that interest you. Reaching out to those faculty directly helps.

Selection criteria: Faculty selection/research fit

💡

Strategic Detail

Paid summer research with a faculty mentor: $2,000 for 5 weeks or $4,000 for 10 weeks. Stipends are taxable and paid biweekly.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Science, math, computer science, psychology, and earth and environment majors. No prior research needed, and domestic and international students can apply.

Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only

ROTC Scholarships

📅 Deadline: Nov–Mar
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)

Full Tuition

ROTC national

✔ Stackable

🎓 All Undergrad

📄

How to Apply

Apply for Army ROTC (hosted at Princeton University); complete national ROTC application meeting service/academic/fitness criteria.

Selection criteria: ROTC/fitness/service eligibility

💡

Strategic Detail

Army ROTC is offered with Princeton University and Air Force ROTC with Saint Joseph's University. National ROTC scholarships can pay up to full tuition plus a stipend in exchange for a service commitment.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Qualified STEM, leadership, or service-focused students making a service commitment.

Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.

Outside MoneyApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only

TheDream.US

📅 Deadline: Set by TheDream.US each year; check thedream.us
✓ Renews

Varies

✔ Stackable

⚠ For undocumented students, including DACA recipients.

🎓 All Undergrad

📄

How to Apply

Apply directly through TheDream.US website.

Selection criteria: National partner eligibility

💡

Strategic Detail

National scholarship for undocumented and DACA students. Rowan is a partner school but does not choose recipients.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Highly motivated undocumented students with financial need.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

Is Rowan really tuition-free for some New Jersey families?
Yes, for families with income (AGI) up to $65,000. The Rowan Opportunity Program covers the first two years and the state’s Garden State Guarantee covers years three and four. Both fill whatever tuition and fee gap is left after other grants. Housing and meals aren’t covered.

What if our family earns between $65,000 and $80,000?
In years one and two, ROP caps tuition and fees at $7,500 a year. But since Fall 2025, new Garden State Guarantee awards only go to families at $65,000 or less, so years three and four may cost more. Budget for that jump.

Do outside scholarships help if my student already gets ROP?
Less than you’d hope. ROP and GSG are “last dollar,” so outside scholarships get counted first and mostly shrink the Rowan grant. They help most when they’re big enough to reach past tuition and into housing costs.

What’s the difference between EOF and RISE?
Both run through Rowan’s ASCEND office and include a six-week summer program before freshman year. EOF is a New Jersey program with income limits and a state grant. RISE is for first-generation students and has no income requirement; students get an invitation and write a 500-word essay.

Can students get paid to do research?
Yes. Science, math, and earth and environment majors can earn $2,000 (5 weeks) or $4,000 (10 weeks) through SURP. Honors students have the same deal through Martinson Summer Scholars.

Is there help for study abroad?
Rowan offers exchange grants of up to $1,000 to $2,000 per semester for specific partner schools. Students need a 3.0 GPA and financial need, and the deadlines are November 1 (spring) and April 12 (fall).

Sources:
https://sites.rowan.edu/financial-aid/tuition-free/rowan-opportunity.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/financial-aid/tuition-free/garden-state-guarantee.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/financial-aid/paying-for-college/grants/tag.html
https://admissions.rowan.edu/admissions-process/alternative-admissions-paths/educational-opportunity-fund.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/ascend/about/eof-rise.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/financial-aid/paying-for-college/scholarships/state.html
https://csm.rowan.edu/research/undergraduate-research/surp-apply.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/international/educationabroad/exchange-scholarship-page.html

The Martinson Honors College at Rowan University

The John H. Martinson Honors College is open to students in any major on the Glassboro campus. Think smaller interdisciplinary classes, extra advising, peer mentoring, and research with faculty. One thing to know up front: Honors at Rowan is invitation-only, and the invitation comes after admission.

Who gets invited: Students admitted to their major by early February with an unweighted GPA of 3.50 or higher
The application: Two 300-word essays plus one recommendation letter from the student’s Common App
Deadline: End of February (February 28, 2027 for Fall 2027 entry), with decisions by April 1

Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships

App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only

Martinson Summer Scholars

📅 Deadline: December 1 · 📢 Results: Spring (before summer start)
Non-Renewable

$2,000–$4,000

✔ Stackable

🎓 All Undergrad

✚

Stacking & Combining

Paid as a research stipend, so it sits alongside regular financial aid.

📄

How to Apply

Apply through the Honors College by December 1 with a description of the project and why you want to do it. Rowan pairs selected students with a faculty mentor.

✎ Essays

💡

Strategic Detail

A paid, faculty-mentored summer research or creative project for Honors students: $2,000 for the 5-week track or $4,000 for the 10-week track. The cohort finishes with a formal poster session.

🕵

Who Actually Wins

Current Martinson Honors College students graduating December 2027 or later. No research experience required, and students can complete the program up to two times.

Honors doesn’t come with an entry scholarship at Rowan. The value is in the experience, plus paid research opportunities like Martinson Summer Scholars once your student is in.

Deadline Note: The Honors invitation only goes to students admitted by early February, which is one more reason to finish the Rowan application well before the January 31 scholarship deadline. Watch your student’s email and the Applicant Status Portal in February.

What Staying in Honors Takes

Usually one in-person Honors course per semester
Honors co-curricular participation each term
A 3.5 cumulative GPA by graduation
At least four semesters of full-time, in-person enrollment

Honors College FAQs (Rowan University)

Is Honors admission automatic at Rowan?
No. Eligible students get an emailed invitation after they’re admitted, then submit a separate Honors application with essays. The Honors Admissions Committee decides on a rolling basis.

Does the Honors College give scholarships?
There’s no entry scholarship. The money opportunity is Martinson Summer Scholars: a paid summer research or creative project worth $2,000 (5 weeks) or $4,000 (10 weeks), with applications due December 1.

Is the GPA cutoff weighted or unweighted?
Unweighted, 3.50 or higher. That catches some families off guard, because a 4.2 weighted GPA can still fall below 3.5 unweighted.

Can students use AI to help write the Honors essays?
No. Rowan’s Honors College says generative AI is strictly prohibited, and it can deny applications that use it. The essays carry real weight, so give them proper time.

What if my student misses the first-year invitation?
Rowan also has Honors admission paths for transfer and current Rowan students, so the door doesn’t close after freshman year.

Sources:
https://sites.rowan.edu/honors/prospective-students/freshmen.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/honors/current-students/martinson-summer-scholars.html
https://sites.rowan.edu/honors/

⭐ College Specialty

Rowan started in 1923 as a small teachers college in Glassboro, and it’s grown into a research university with two medical schools and a veterinary school. The turning point was 1992, when industrialist Henry Rowan gave $100 million to build an engineering program. Today Rowan is known for hands-on engineering, a big business school, strong communications, and one of the clearest pre-med pipelines in the region.

Nationally Known Program:
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering: Rowan engineering is built around the “engineering clinic,” a sequence that has students working on real design projects in teams across all eight semesters instead of waiting until senior year. Students get chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and biomedical engineering at a public-university price. Just budget for the $1,500-per-semester engineering fee.

Pre-Med and Health Sciences: Rowan is home to Cooper Medical School (MD), the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), and the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine. Its 3+4 BS/MD and BS/DO programs and 3+2 physician assistant program can shave years off the path. Those applications are due November 1, and they’re the one place Rowan requires test scores.
Business: The Rohrer College of Business awards more bachelor’s degrees than any other area at Rowan, with popular tracks in finance, accounting, management, and supply chain.
Communication and Media: The Ric Edelman College covers journalism, public relations, advertising, and radio, television and film. Its student radio station, Rowan Radio 89.7 WGLS, has won a dozen Gracie Awards.
Psychology and Computer Science: These two are among Rowan’s biggest majors. Psychology produces more bachelor’s degrees than any other single field, and computer science is the next-largest STEM major after engineering.
Education: Rowan still trains a lot of New Jersey’s teachers, a nod to its roots as Glassboro’s teachers college.

🔗 Official Rowan University Links

Use Rowan’s own pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, and costs before you make decisions. When anything on this page and Rowan’s site disagree, go with Rowan.

Undergraduate Admissions:
https://admissions.rowan.edu/
Application Calendar & Deadlines:
https://admissions.rowan.edu/admissions-process/app-calendar-fees.html
Scholarships for Incoming Students:
https://admissions.rowan.edu/financing-education/scholarships.html
Out-of-State Scholarships (Brown & Gold):
https://admissions.rowan.edu/financing-education/out-of-state.html
Tuition-Free Opportunities (ROP & Garden State Guarantee):
https://sites.rowan.edu/financial-aid/tuition-free/
2026-2027 Cost of Attendance:
https://sites.rowan.edu/financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/annual-coa-2627.html
2026-2027 Undergraduate Tuition & Fees:
https://sites.rowan.edu/bursar/tuitionfees/2026-27-tuition-and-fees/2026-27-undergraduate-tuition-and-fees/
Net Price Calculator:
https://rowan.clearcostcalculator.com/student
Martinson Honors College (First-Year Admission):
https://sites.rowan.edu/honors/prospective-students/freshmen.html
Common Data Set (Institutional Data):
https://sites.rowan.edu/academic-affairs/ida/_docs/rowan_university_cds.pdf

Rowan University Scholarships (2026–2027)

📊 Admissions Snapshot

📌 Rowan University at a Glance

FAQ

💰 Cost of Attendance at Rowan University: 2026–2027 Rates

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Rowan University

📅 Rowan Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

Automatic Merit Scholarships at Rowan University

Automatic Merit FAQs (Rowan University)

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Rowan?

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

🧠 Parent Strategy: At Rowan, the FAFSA Is the Scholarship Application

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

The Martinson Honors College at Rowan University

Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships

Honors College FAQs (Rowan University)

⭐ College Specialty

🔗 Official Rowan University Links

The Project

Scholarships & Aid

Planning Tools

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Rowan University Scholarships (2026–2027)

📊 Admissions Snapshot

📌 Rowan University at a Glance

FAQ

💰 Cost of Attendance at Rowan University: 2026–2027 Rates

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Rowan University

📅 Rowan Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)

Automatic Merit Scholarships at Rowan University

Automatic Merit FAQs (Rowan University)

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Rowan?

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

🧠 Parent Strategy: At Rowan, the FAFSA Is the Scholarship Application

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

The Martinson Honors College at Rowan University

Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships

Honors College FAQs (Rowan University)

⭐ College Specialty

🔗 Official Rowan University Links

✅ Wrapping It Up

Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.

The Project

Scholarships & Aid

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