When Time Becomes the Intervention

Modern learners often face competing responsibilities that take them away from their studies, chief of which is work. Grant-based initiatives can help alleviate some of the financial pressure on students and allow them to graduate on time and with better results. For many low-income students, earning a business degree is not just an academic pursuit, it is a careful balancing act.

About the Initiative

At Rutgers Business School-Newark, we serve a large population of first-generation college students, where over half are Pell-eligible. While we have a history of programmatic success and career outcomes—ranked #17 nationally for five-year return on investment by Poets & Quants in 2024—one of the consistent challenges we face is the competing demands on students' time.

A recent internal survey of nearly 400 Rutgers Business School-Newark undergraduates revealed that 56 percent are employed while enrolled, working an average of more than 20 hours per week, and 11.5 percent work 40 or more hours per week while pursuing their degrees. Decades of national research show that this workload undermines academic performance, negatively impacting GPA, persistence, and time to degree.

On-Time Graduation Scholarship

In summer 2024, Rutgers Business School launched the On-Time Graduation initiative, a targeted scholarship program aimed at reducing the need for students to work excessive hours so they can focus on learning. The program was developed after discussions with alumni supporters, many of whom worked part- and full-time jobs while in college themselves.

A scholarship of approximately $1,500–$1,800 per semester can offset close to 100 hours of work at a typical part-time wage, freeing up nearly seven hours per week for academic pursuits. Early results are promising:

• 15 of 18 students in the first cohort saw GPA improvements after one semester.
• An average cumulative GPA increase of 6%.
• Students report less stress, greater ability to plan schedules around classes, and a stronger sense of belonging.

Grant payments are structured independently of financial aid disbursements, issued as taxable earnings, allowing students to use funds for non-tuition costs without impacting other scholarships.

Impact and Goals

Rutgers Business School-Newark currently posts a four-year graduation rate of just over 52 percent, with nearly 78 percent graduating within six years. Financial pressures are among the most common reasons degrees take longer to complete. Improving on-time graduation by even five to ten percentage points would significantly enhance outcomes for students and elevate the program’s return on investment.

The scholarship program, now in its second year, supports 20 students each semester with the goal of eventually reaching 100 students per semester. It represents a strategic investment in academic excellence and social mobility, cultivating future alumni who understand the transformative power of opportunity.