Non-Traditional: Defined

The term "nontraditional" is used to identify students who have personal and professional demands on their lives that make it challenging to meet their academic goals.

At Rutgers-New Brunswick, a nontraditional student is defined as an undergraduate student enrolled in a degree-granting school and meets at least one of the following criteria:

  • Has been out of HS for 4+ years at the time of first undergraduate registration
  • Has had at least a 2-year interruption in their undergraduate education
  • Is a veteran or active duty military service member
  • Is enrolled in a RUNB off-campus or on-line bachelor’s degree completion program;
  • Is pursuing post-baccalaureate studies, primarily in undergraduate courses;
  • Must take less than 12 credits due to significant non-academic commitments.*
  • Is a parent, pregnant or legal guardian
  • Is married or in a domestic partnership
  • Is financially emancipated

*Significant non-academic commitments may include:  being self-supporting, having to work full-time work (34 hours a week or more based on need), having financial dependents.  Matriculated students whose circumstances change and wish to obtain nontraditional status should contact UC to initiate the application process