Senior Citizen Audit Program

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey provides senior citizens with opportunities in higher education.

The Senior Citizen Audit Program was created by the Rutgers University Board of Governors to permit retired New Jersey residents, age 62 or older, to audit courses on a space-available, noncredit basis. There are no tuition costs for auditing courses. Senior auditors do not receive academic credit for audited courses.

Choosing a Course

Important to know

• Browse class availability at Rutgers Schedule of Classes.
• Senior citizen auditors may audit classes with the permission of the instructor and within all departmental guidelines.
• Senior auditors are not required to complete assignments or participate in exams.
• Only courses offered during the spring and fall semesters are open to auditors (see exceptions below). No other courses offered at the university are available under the Senior Citizen Audit Program, including courses offered during other terms.
• The costs of textbooks or other software/materials are not included in the program.
• Winter Session and Summer Session courses are not covered by this program.

Senior Citizen Auditor Class Participation Guidelines

Senior Citizen Auditors are guests of the university and are welcome to enjoy classes as long as they respect the expectations of the instructor regarding auditors and do not negatively impact the educational experience of other class participants.  

The class instructor, at their sole discretion, determines whether auditors in the class will be able to fully participate in the class or will only be allowed to observe with no active participation. In addition, the instructor may rescind permission of the auditor to participate if the instructor deems that it is in the best interest of the class to do so.  If a senior citizen auditor does not abide by the guidelines set forth by the instructor, is disruptive, or otherwise behaves in a way the instructor believes is detrimental to the class, either the instructor or the Senior Citizen Audit Program coordinator has the authority to rescind consent to audit the class and/or disenroll the auditor from the program. 

Application

Complete the online application by January 5, 2024. You will need to upload a copy of your ID (New Jersey driver's license) at the time of application.

Key Dates

*courses offered by the School of Nursing or the medical schools are not available for audit. Also, the Mason Gross School of the Arts studio classes are not available for audit during the spring semester (classes with a course code that begins with 07:081)