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New Brunswick, New Jersey is a compact city on the Raritan River nicknamed the Hub City, and Rutgers University-New Brunswick gives it unmistakable college energy. The flagship campus sprawls across College Avenue, downtown, and into neighboring Piscataway and Highland Park, so the student footprint stretches well beyond any single quad. Tens of thousands of students fill the streets, and downtown doubles as a cultural hub with a theater district, the State Theatre, and a busy nightlife scene near campus. Green space includes Buccleuch Park and the riverfront paths along the Raritan, while festivals and a farmers market keep the calendar full. You can walk to class, catch a train to the city, and still feel like you're in a real working town.
The heart of student life, packed with apartments within walking distance of class, the train station, and downtown nightlife.
Just across the Raritan, the quieter, leafier choice, a short walk or bus ride from campus that suits students wanting calmer streets.
Home to the Busch and Livingston campuses, it draws students who want apartment complexes and easy bus access to the science and athletics side of Rutgers.
Here's what you need to know about getting around New Brunswick.
The Rutgers campus bus system is the backbone, running frequent loops between College Avenue, Busch, Livingston, Cook, and Douglass, and it's free with your student ID. NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor line stops at the New Brunswick station, a five-minute walk from College Avenue, with more than ninety trains a day to Newark, Manhattan, and Trenton. Together they make car-free living the norm here. Most students lean on buses and trains for nearly everything.
Walkability around College Avenue and downtown is excellent, with groceries, class, and nightlife on foot. Biking works on calmer streets, though busier avenues and the bridge to Highland Park need attention. The compact campus core makes most daily trips walkable. Plan bike routes around the busier corridors.
A car is optional, and parking near campus is tight, so many students lean on buses and trains, saving a rideshare for Piscataway trips. The dense transit network means you rarely need to drive. Parking pressure is highest right around College Avenue. Confirm permit and parking rules with your building or the university before relying on a space.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Expect studios around $1,150 to $1,500 a month and one-bedrooms near $1,500, while sharing a house or a multi-bedroom unit with roommates can drop your share well below that. Newer purpose-built buildings on College Avenue run higher, so most students split larger places to keep the per-person number reasonable.
Browse student housing near each New Brunswick-area university.