A college education has become a significant expense for most families and requires careful planning. Whatever your financial situation is, we encourage you to use this information to help you understand college funding so you can navigate the financial aid process with greater ease.

State Financial Aid

States provide many financial aid opportunities to help ease the cost of a college education. Please select the state you reside in to learn about state sponsored internships, scholarships and financial aid programs for undergraduate students and assistantships, fellowships, and residency programs for graduate and professional students.

STATE OF NEW JERSEY FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA)

P.O. Box 540

Trenton, NJ 08625 – 0540

1-800-792-8670

Go to:

http://www.nj.gov/nj/education/aid/

OR

http://www.hesaa.org

PLEASE GO TO THIS WEBSITE FOR ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED FOR THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of New Jersey.

Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)

TAG is one of the nation’s largest and most generous financial aid programs. Nearly one in every three full-time New Jersey students receives TAG, and awards may be used at most New Jersey colleges and universities.

How Do I Apply?

Part-Time Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)

Part-Time TAG for County College Students provides pro-rated awards to TAG-eligible, New Jersey county college students taking 6 – 11 credits per term.

How Do I Apply?

Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Grant

New Jersey students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds may be eligible to participate.

Participating New Jersey Colleges and Universities

Get more information on EOF from The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education

How Do I Apply?

NJ Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS)

The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) Program is an initiative created by the State of New Jersey that provides New Jersey’s highest achieving students with free tuition at their home county college.

NJ STARS Benefits

The NJ STARS award covers the cost of tuition, less any State and/or Federal grants and scholarships, for up to five semesters. The award covers these charges for up to 18 credit hours per semester. Funding for NJ STARS awards is dependent upon annual State appropriations.

NJ STARS II Program

NJ STARS recipients who earn an associate degree from a county college with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, have a family income (taxable and untaxed income) less than $250,000, and meet all other program eligibility requirements may be eligible to receive an NJ STARS II award to transfer to a New Jersey four-year public college or university to earn a baccalaureate degree.

Additional Information

Contact the financial aid office at your home county college for additional information.

NJ Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (NJ STARS II)

The NJ STARS II Program is a continuation of the NJ STARS Program that provides successful NJ STARS students at New Jersey county colleges with funding to transfer to a New Jersey four-year public institution of higher education to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Further Information

Contact the financial aid office at the New Jersey four-year public institution for additional information.

Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars (DS)

Benefits

  • Annual awards up to $1,000 to renewal students
  • Renewable annually based upon continued eligibility and available funding

· Scholarship program recognizes outstanding academic achievement of New Jersey high school seniors who graduated prior to 2010

Urban Scholars Award (US)

Benefits

  • Annual awards up to $1,000 to renewal students
  • Renewable annually based upon continued eligibility and available funding
  • Awards not based on financial need
  • Scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement of New Jersey high school seniors attending public secondary schools in the State’s urban, economically distressed areas who graduated prior to 2010

Survivor Tuition Benefits

This scholarship benefits dependent children and surviving spouses of New Jersey firefighters, emergency service workers or law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty.

Benefits

  • Covers the cost of tuition at any New Jersey public college or university. Students enrolled at an independent New Jersey college or university may receive up to the highest tuition charged at a NJ public institution.
  • Awards are renewable

Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship benefits dependent children of New Jersey law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty.

Benefits

  • Scholarship up to the cost of attendance, less other scholarships, grants, benefits and other assistance awarded under HESAA statute
  • Renewable for up to four years

How Do I Apply?

  • Fall and Spring term – October 1 of the academic year for which aid is requested
  • Spring term only – March 1 of the academic year for which aid is requested

Outstanding Scholars Recruitment Program

The OSRP was initiated in FY1998 as a pilot project, aiming to increase the enrollment and retention of the State’s highest achieving secondary school graduates. Students who met the eligibility criteria and enroll as first-time freshmen at participating New Jersey institutions received annual scholarship awards of up to $7,500.
The program operates without underlying statute–authority is budgetary footnote language in the annual Appropriations Act and administrative guidelines developed as part of the contract with participating institutions.

Funding is only available for continuing seniors who are already receiving OSRP.

Dana Christmas Scholarship for Heroism

The Dana Christmas Scholarship was established to honor the Seton Hall student who is credited with saving lives and helping many students avoid serious injury during the tragic dormitory fire on January 19, 2001. Christmas, who was a resident advisor in the Boland Hall dormitory, passed up multiple opportunities to leave the burning building in order to help evacuate her fellow students.

Dana’s extraordinary actions, taken without regard for her personal safety, prevented what could have been an even more catastrophic loss of life. Her unselfish concern for others represents the ultimate example of personal responsibility.

In her honor and in this spirit, this scholarship recognizes and honors young New Jerseyans for exceptional acts of heroism.

Benefits

  • Non-renewable one-time scholarship of up to $10,000
  • Up to five scholarships are awarded each year
  • May be used for undergraduate or graduate study