New Jersey scholarships, student loans and grants

Over 60% of students in New Jersey graduate with debt. Fortunately, the Garden State offers a handful of scholarships, grants and state-funded loans to help cover the costs of school — regardless of income.

Top New Jersey college scholarships

New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS)

• Amounts

  The cost of tuition for up to 18 credit hours after other aid is applied — renewable for up to five semesters

• Eligibility requirements

  To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • New Jersey resident for at least 12 months prior to high school graduation
  • Earn minimum score for college readiness on a college placement test
  • Rank in top 15% of your class for your junior or senior year of high school
  • Complete “rigorous” high school courses
  • Enroll in at least 12 hours of college coursework at a home county college
  • Complete the FAFSA or New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application
  • Citizen, eligible noncitizen or eligible to file the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application

  To renew this scholarship, you must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher by the start of your second year of county college enrollment.

  To be eligible for the NJ STARS II Program and transfer to a four-year school, you must graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.

The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) Program helps students obtain associate degrees by providing awards that cover tuition for up to five semesters. You won’t have to jump in right away, either — if you’re not ready for college and need to take remedial courses, you have one year to demonstrate eligibility. And once you’ve completed the STARS program, you may be eligible for STARS II, which covers tuition at a four-year institution.

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

• Amounts

  Up to $1,250 per semester — renewable for up to four semesters

• Eligibility requirements

  To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • NJ STARS recipient or not fully funded by other state or federal aid
  • New Jersey county college graduate with a 3.25 GPA or higher
  • Annual family income of less than $250,000
  • Admitted to a New Jersey four-year institution that participates in the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) Program
  • Enrolled in at least 12 credit hours each semester
  • Begin the STARS II Program no later than the second semester following county college graduation
  • Apply for all forms of state and federal need-based grants and merit scholarships

The NJ STARS II Program was created to provided continued funding to students who successfully completed an associate degree at a New Jersey county college. Awards cover up to $1,250 per semester of tuition and fees at eligible four-year colleges and universities in New Jersey, after other state and federal scholarships and grants have been applied.

New Jersey-Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship (NJ–GIVS) for Women and Minorities

• Amounts

  Up to $2,000 per year or the cost of tuition — renewable for one year

• Eligibility requirements

  To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Female student or minority student
  • Annual household income of $60,000 or less
  • Resident of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months prior to receiving award
  • High school graduate or GED recipient
  • Enrolled in eligible program at eligible New Jersey institution
  • Complete the FAFSA or New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application
  • Citizen, eligible noncitizen or eligible to file the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application

The New Jersey-Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship (NJ–GIVS) was designed to give access to vocational training for minority and female students. It’s renewable for one year, depending on the program you’re enrolled in. However, you won’t receive funding until after the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) receives confirmation of your enrollment and academic progress.

Other New Jersey scholarships

Although New Jersey only has three scholarships available to its general student population, there are a few that service specific groups:

• World Trade Center (WTC) Scholarship. Children and surviving spouses of New Jersey residents killed by the terrorist attacks on 9/11 may be eligible for this scholarship. Amounts vary by year, but may help cover tuition and other costs of full-time attendance at an eligible institution.
• Survivor Tuition Benefits Program. If you’re the child or surviving spouse of a New Jersey emergency service worker, firefighter or law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty, you could be eligible for free tuition at any public New Jersey institution.
• Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Scholarship (LEOM). Children of deceased law enforcement officers may be eligible for this scholarship, which covers up to the cost of attendance at an approved New Jersey college, university or degree-granting school.
• Governor’s Urban Scholarship. If you live in one of New Jersey’s underserved communities and are in the top 5% of your graduating class with a 3.0 GPA or higher, you could qualify for this merit- and need-based scholarship. Award amounts vary by year and financial need.
• New Jersey Foster Care Scholars (NJFC). This scholarship helps students who’ve been in the foster care system pay for tuition, fees, room and board, transportation and other college expenses. There are several programs available, so check with Foster and Adoptive Family Services to see what you may qualify for.

Top New Jersey grants for school

New Jersey only has two major grants for students, but they offer quite a bit in terms of funding.

Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)

• Amounts

  Up to the full cost of tuition

• Eligibility requirements

  To qualify for the Tuition Aid Grant, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • New Jersey resident for at least 12 months prior to enrollment
  • High school graduate or equivalent
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Attending a full-time undergraduate program in an approved field, which doesn’t include theology or divinity
  • No previously earned associate or bachelor’s degree
  • No refunds owed or defaults on any federal or state grants or loans
  • US citizen, eligible noncitizen or eligible to file the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress

  Students enrolled part time at a county college may still qualify for the TAG Program.

Depending on your financial need and when you complete the FAFSA, you may be eligible for New Jersey’s Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) Program. It covers up to the full cost of tuition, and almost one-third of New Jersey undergraduates receive it.

New Jersey Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG)

• Amounts

  Costs of tuition and approved fees not covered by other grants

• Eligibility requirements

  To qualify for this grant, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Attending one of New Jersey’s 13 county colleges
  • Enrolled in at least six credits per semester
  • Adjusted gross income of $45,000 or less
  • Complete the FAFSA or New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application by the annual deadline

The Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) is a new program recently launched by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. It covers the costs of tuition and fees — after other aid has been applied — for students to attend a community college in their county. If you have plans on moving out of county to go to school, you might not qualify.

Does New Jersey offer special student loans to residents?

Yes, the NJClass student loan program is available to undergraduate students who are either:

• New Jersey residents. You can use the funds to attend any eligible college around the world.
• Non-New Jersey residents. You can use the funds to attend any eligible college in New Jersey.

All undergraduate loans require a cosigner or proof of income, and you must be enrolled at least half time in a degree or certificate program. NJClass offers three fixed interest rates based on your loan term, plus a 3% origination fee that’s included in the APR.

NJClass also offers refinancing and consolidation for students looking to streamline their student loans into one monthly repayment.

Other ways to pay for school in New Jersey

Beyond state scholarships, grants and loans, you may want to consider your federal and private options to finance your education.

Federal and college scholarships and grants

There are several federal grants available for those with financial need. In addition, many universities and colleges throughout New Jersey offer their own scholarships and grant programs. For example, Rutgers has multiple merit- and need-based scholarships available to incoming students.

Federal and private student loans

When federal and institutional grants and scholarships aren’t enough, you may want to turn to student loans. We recommend starting with the federal Direct Loan Program first — these offer more competitive rates and repayment terms than private student loan providers.

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Explore scholarships, student loans and grants in other states

Bottom line

New Jersey has a few scholarships and grants available to help residents cover the cost of tuition and fees. And its NJClass loan program is quite competitive — even compared to federal Direct Loans.

Don’t qualify for any of these programs? Explore other ways to pay for college with our guide to student loans.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application?

  The New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application is designed for New Jersey Dreamers enrolled in eligible New Jersey colleges and universities. It gives these students who aren’t US citizens or eligible noncitizens the opportunity to apply for state financial aid.

  To complete the New Jersey Alternative Finacial Aid Application, you need to meet the following criteria:

  • Attended a New Jersey high school for at least three years
  • Graduated from a New Jersey high school or received an equivalent high school diploma in New Jersey
  • Registered for Selective Service, if applicable

  In addition, you need to file an affidavit stating you’ve filed an application to legalize your immigration status or that you plan to file one as soon as you’re able to.

• How can I find out if my school or program is eligible for financial aid?

  On the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) website, each New Jersey scholarship and grant has a list of eligible institutions on its brochure. If you’re unsure, you can contact the HESAA or your institution to ask if you qualify.

• How can I get in touch with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA)?

  You can contact the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) by:

  • Email: Send a note to client_services@hesaa.org.
  • Phone: Call 800-792-8670 or 609-584-4480 to speak to a representative Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.