Admission to Cap and Skull is dependent on excellence in academics, athletics, the arts, and public service.

On January 18, 1900, ten members of the senior class of Rutgers College met in the Chi Psi lodge to form Cap and Skull.

Under the new system, each leadership position and honor on campus was awarded a point value, and students with the highest cumulative value were selected for induction.

[2] In 1923, in response to the growing student body, the number of members to be tapped each year was fixed at twelve and a tri-fold criterion for selection was established:[2] With the onset of World War II, many members of the Rutgers community left college to serve in the military.

In 1981, Rutgers College students again discussed the need for an organization or honor that would recognize leadership contributions made by members of the senior class.

[2] In 2000, a large gala event was held for the 100th anniversary of Cap and Skull and members endowed an annual scholarship to Rutgers students.

[3] Today, Cap and Skull represents many of the diverse organizations on campus and is now composed of undergraduate students from any of the university's reorganized schools.