Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Travel guide for Indian students — New Brunswick, United States. Nearest international gateway: EWR (Newark).
Rutgers University-New Brunswick is the flagship campus of New Jersey's state university, strong in engineering, computer science, business, pharmacy and the sciences. Centrally located between New York and Philadelphia, it hosts a large Indian graduate community.
Rutgers-New Brunswick is about 26 miles from Newark Liberty International (EWR), the international gateway. A direct NJ Transit train links the airport to New Brunswick, a short walk from campus.
Rutgers has a large Indian graduate community across the School of Engineering, computer science, the business school, pharmacy and the sciences, with easy access to the New York and central New Jersey job markets. The direct train from Newark airport makes arrival simple.
Train from Newark (EWR)
From Newark Liberty (EWR), take the AirTrain to the Newark Airport rail station, then the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor line south to New Brunswick - about a 40-minute trip. The New Brunswick station is less than a mile (a ~10-minute walk) from the College Avenue campus. A taxi/rideshare from EWR is ~30-40 minutes.
Other New York airports
JFK and LaGuardia (each ~50 miles) are alternatives but involve heavier traffic and train transfers; EWR with the direct NJ Transit train is much simpler. Rutgers does not run an airport pickup, so plan the train or a rideshare.
Getting around
Rutgers runs an extensive free campus bus system (every few minutes) linking its New Brunswick/Piscataway campuses, and NJ Transit trains and buses connect to New York and the region. New Brunswick's downtown is walkable from the College Ave campus.
Visiting your child at Rutgers means flying into Newark Liberty International (EWR), about 26 miles away, with a direct NJ Transit train to New Brunswick. Plan the US visitor visa well ahead.
Getting from EWR to campus
Visitor visa for parents
Indian parents need a B1/B2 visitor visa. First-time interview waits are long and vary sharply by consulate, so city choice matters - you may book at ANY US consulate in India, not just your home city.
- Plan 8-12 months ahead, especially for graduation - graduations do NOT qualify for emergency/expedited appointments.
- You can book at any consulate in India; many families fly to Chennai to save months versus Mumbai or Delhi.
- The dropbox (interview waiver) window shrank from 48 to 12 months in 2025 - most parents with older expired visas now need a full interview.
- Visitor stays are up to 6 months per visit, set by the officer at entry on the I-94.
Just admitted to Rutgers-New Brunswick? Most Indian students enter on an F-1 academic visa (DS-160 fee $185 + SEVIS I-901 fee $350). J-1 is for exchange programs (SEVIS $220), M-1 for vocational study. Spouses/children come on F-2/J-2/M-2 dependent visas. You can enter the US up to 30 days before your program start date. For Fall 2026, Indian F-1 applicants must interview at one of five US consulates in India.
Arrival checklist
- Book your flight into Newark Liberty International (EWR) - ~26 miles, with a direct train to campus.
- Take the AirTrain to Newark airport rail, then NJ Transit Northeast Corridor to New Brunswick (~40 min); campus is a ~10-min walk.
- Rutgers has no airport pickup - plan the train or a rideshare; the free campus bus system covers New Brunswick once you arrive.
- Confirm student baggage allowance with your airline.
- Carry your I-20, SEVIS receipt and financial documents in hand luggage for US immigration.
New Brunswick, home to Rutgers, is a mid-priced central-NJ college town - about $1,400-2,100 a month all-in sharing and cooking. Its trump card is location: it sits in one of the largest Indian regions in the US, with Edison/Iselin's Oak Tree Road 'Little India' a short drive away, plus Rutgers' free campus bus network and an NJ Transit line into New York.
Monthly cost of living in New Brunswick (a student estimate)
That's roughly $17,000-25,000 a year for living costs, on top of tuition.
Finding accommodation
New Brunswick is a college town built around Rutgers University, so most students share apartments or houses near campus, or take university housing for the first year.
- Rutgers University students ride Rutgers campus buses + NJ Transit free with a valid ID.
- College Ave / near campus keeps you within walking or biking distance of campus - off-campus leases there go fast.
- Being a college town, most daily needs are close to campus; factor in occasional travel to the nearest city/airport.
Working part-time
On an F-1 visa you can work on-campus up to 20 hours/week during term (full-time in breaks). Off-campus work needs authorization - CPT during study, OPT after (up to 12 months, +24 for STEM degrees). You cannot freelance or work off-campus without approval.
Safety & student support
New Brunswick is a relatively small, student-centred town and generally safe by US standards; still use normal awareness at night.
- Rutgers University runs security escorts, safety apps and (often) night shuttles - save the campus safety number.
- The campus and College Ave / near campus areas are walkable and student-dense.
- Stick to well-lit, well-travelled routes at night; small-town crime is low but not zero.
Indian community & food
New Brunswick has an active Indian student community centred on Rutgers University. Central New Jersey has one of the largest Indian populations in the US, so desi groceries, food and culture are abundant.
Indian grocery stores
- Oak Tree Road in Edison/Iselin - one of the biggest 'Little India' strips in the US, a short drive from campus.
- Patel Brothers (1555 Oak Tree Rd, Iselin; and North Brunswick) anchors the area.
- Subzi Mandi and Apna Bazar-type grocers all along the Edison/Iselin corridor.
Student community
- Rutgers University has an active Indian/South Asian student association running major Diwali/Holi events.
- Nearby Edison/Iselin (the 'Little India' of NJ, Oak Tree Road) is a major Indian hub a short drive away.
- Indian restaurants in New Brunswick catering to the student community, with more in the nearest city.
Cost & living figures for New Brunswick last verified Jun 2026. Figures are estimates and change over time.
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