A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution of higher education is required of applicants to the Graduate School–Newark. In general, the school expects applicants to have an average of B or better in their previous academic work. Students should show additional evidence of their potential for graduate study by enclosing letters of recommendation and through their scores on the Graduate Record Examination, if required.

Applicants should refer to the current application found online at http://gradstudy.rutgers.edu to learn about requirements set by the program of their choice. Admission to the school is competitive, and some applicants who meet or exceed minimum requirements may be denied acceptance. Some programs, particularly the sciences, require prerequisites.