Public research university evolved from teacher training to a comprehensive institution with medical, engineering, and veterinary programs.
Rowan University operates 14 colleges and schools offering comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs across engineering, business, education, health sciences, arts, and sciences. The university is classified as an R2 research institution with high research activity and offers bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs. Notable programs include the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (MD), Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), and the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), making Rowan one of only two universities nationally offering all three medical degrees.
The main campus spans 800 acres in Glassboro with additional academic and medical facilities in Camden and Stratford. The university provides housing, dining, athletic facilities, and extensive student support services including mental health resources, pet therapy programs, and 24/7 counseling through partnerships like TogetherAll. Rowan hosts 18 NCAA Division III sports teams and maintains an active student life with numerous organizations, cultural events, and recreational opportunities across its multiple campuses.
Rowan maintains an overall admission rate of 53.0% (as of 2017). The university accepts students from 38 states and 34 countries. Admitted undergraduates typically score between 530–630 on SAT Critical Reading and 510–620 on SAT Math (2017 data), with an average accepted GPA of 3.46 (2016). The university offers multiple pathways including first-year, transfer, graduate, medical education, and international admissions, with streamlined application processes and affordable tuition.
U.S. News & World Report ranks Rowan University 163rd nationally among National Universities and 88th among Top Public Schools (2024). The university is ranked 19th among Northern Regional Universities and third among public institutions in that category. Program-specific rankings include Business (244), Computer Science (229), and Nursing (535). Rowan is recognized as the fastest-growing public research university in the Northeast and among the nation's top 10 fastest-growing institutions.