Bachelor's in City and Regional Planning at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Programme overview

The B.A. gives a foundation in city and regional planning, with focus areas in environmental planning and justice, community planning, housing, transportation, urban health, public policy, land use, and planning methods and geospatial analytics.

Faculty: Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy | Department: Urban Planning and Policy Development | Study mode: full-time | Location: New Brunswick, NJ, United States

What you will study

39-41 credits: prerequisite College Writing, an 18-20 credit core (statistics, introductory planning or policy, economics or GIS, mapping or writing, graphic communications or research methods, Design Sustainability, internship), a 9-credit planning specialisation and 12 credits of electives. A revised curriculum starts Summer 2026.

Career pathways

Planning and management roles overseeing transportation, housing, environment, finance, economic development and urban redevelopment in government, consulting, research and nonprofits; also graduate study in public administration, policy, planning, law and business.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Bloustein B.A. in City and Regional Planning: Rutgers SAS and SEBS students (code 170) must apply before declaring, with a C or better in each prerequisite course and good academic standing, in designated application cycles. Transfer, adult and nontraditional students (code 170D) need at least 30 credits, a C or better in prerequisites and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5. All students must complete a minor.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Fall (September) entry: first-year Early Action application due November 1, 2026 and Regular Decision due December 1, 2026 for September 2027 entry; Spring (January) entry for 2027 is open to first-year and transfer applicants to the School of Arts and Sciences, with an application due date of October 1, 2026.

New Brunswick, Fall/September 2027: first-year Early Action November 1, 2026 (decision by January 31, 2027); first-year Regular Decision December 1, 2026 (decision by February 28, 2027); all transfer applicants February 1, 2027; candidate reply date May 1, 2027. Applications after the due dates are considered on a rolling, space-available basis. Applicants must apply by December 1 to be considered for honors and merit-based scholarships.

New Brunswick, Spring/January 2027: all first-year and transfer applications due October 1, 2026; online decision December 1, 2026; candidate reply date December 7, 2026.

Applications are submitted through the Rutgers Application or the Common App. SAT and ACT scores are optional for Rutgers-New Brunswick undergraduate applicants (SAT code 2765, ACT code 2592); Rutgers maintains test-optional and test-blind policies through 2027. Application fee is paid online by credit card or by mailed check; fee waivers are accepted from the National School Lunch Program, military or veteran applicants, College Board, NACAC, ACT and EOF.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.rutgers.edu/apply

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