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Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

College For You NJ

My Associate Degree is fully paid for by the Stae of New Jersey Destiny B.A. in History, 2027

New Jersey is committed to making the college experience as affordable and accessible as possible.

By going to college in New Jersey, residents can benefit from some of the most generous financial aid in the nation and potentially even graduate tuition-free! All you have to do is complete a financial aid application to find out how affordable college can be here in our state.

The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) is available to help guide you through the process.

Ready to start filling out your financial aid application?

Start by choosing the right application for you. Each student only needs to complete one of the following applications based on your eligibility. The financial aid application for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available in early December 2024.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Most New Jerseyans will be eligible to file the FAFSA. U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens must complete this application to be considered for federal and Stzate aid.

New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application

If you are not a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, you may still be eligible to apply for State aid through the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application if you qualify as an NJ Dreamer.

Five Steps to Apply for Federal & State Financial Aid

If You Are an NJ Dreamer: Don’t create an FSA ID or go to the U.S. Department of Education’s website. Instead, create an NJFAMS account and apply for State financial aid by filling out the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application in the NJFAMS portal.

5 Steps to Apply for Federal & State Student Aid



Step 1 – Get the Information and Assistance You Need

If you need help with the financial aid process, seek free assistance from a high school counselor, college financial aid officer, the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-Fed-Aid (433-3243), or HESAA. Make sure to meet applicable State deadlines (below) to be considered for State financial aid.



Step 2 – Create an FSA Login

If you are eligible to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you and information contributor(s) – if applicable – must create your own individual Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID Account logins. This ID will serve as your electronic signature on the FAFSA. Go to the website to create your username and passwords, which will be used to access the FAFSA once you’re ready.



Step 3 – Complete Your Application

Start your FAFSA by logging in with your FSA ID. Once you complete the student’s section of the application, invite any applicable information contributors – such as a spouse, parent, stepparent, or adoptive parent to fill out the contributor section of the FAFSA. Make sure SIGN and SUBMIT your section of the FAFSA before the contributor starts their section.



Step 4 – Create an NJFAMS Account

Click the link sent to you in an email by HESAA or visit this page to create an account. Once you create a User ID and password, you will be able to view your ‘To Do List’ and ‘Award and Eligibility’ information within the NJFAMS portal.



Step 5 – Submit Corrections and Verify Your Answers as Needed

Once you submit your application, check the FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) on the Federal Student Aid website to see if you need to make any corrections to your FAFSA. Similarly, check your ‘To Do List’ in NJFAMS to see if HESAA requires any additional information or documents in order to process your State aid eligibility. Once all information is verified, you can view your federal financial aid eligibility and State financial aid eligibility on these respective sites.

Note: Colleges and universities let new students know how much institutional aid they are eligible to receive via award letters.

New Jersey State Aid

An affordable college degree is closer than you think right here in New Jersey. Depending on your family’s household income, your academic performance, and/or other circumstances, you may be eligible for significant financial aid from the State. By completing a financial aid application, you’ll be considered for the various grants and scholarships offered to New Jersey students.



Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) - TAG offers need-based assistance to New Jersey residents enrolled at eligible colleges and universities in the state, covering a substantial portion of tuition for nearly one-third of all full-time undergraduate students. Our state offers one of the nation’s highest amounts of need-based aid per student in the nation.



New Jersey College Promise - This is comprised of two programs – the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) and Garden State Guarantee (GSG) – that work together to provide an affordable pathway to a college degree with up to four years of transparent, predictable pricing. CCOG and GSG help cover the cost of an eligible student’s tuition and approved educational fees when they attend their local community college and then transfer to a four-year public New Jersey institution. Depending on your income, your degree may be tuition-free!



New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) - NJ STARS is a merit-based scholarship program that provides New Jersey who rank in the top 15.0% of their class during their junior or senior years of high school with free tuition if they enroll at their home county colleges. Eligible students can also receive additional financial aid through NJ STARS II if they transfer to a four-year college or university in the state to pursue their bachelor’s degree.



Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) - The EOF program partners with New Jersey colleges and universities to provide financial assistance together with academic and social support services to New Jersey residents from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Eligible students can receive grants to help cover tuition, fees, books, and other educational expenses, as well as access to academic support services. Note: EOF is a campus-based program and admission into EOF is conducted at the campus level, so you will need to contact a participating college(s) to apply for this program. Learn more and see which colleges on your list have an EOF program .



Other Grants & Scholarships - New Jersey also offers a number of grants and scholarships based on personal circumstances, field of study, and other factors that can help pay for some or all of a student’s tuition costs. Note: Some of these scholarships may require an additional step in the process once your financial aid application is complete. Learn more about these additional programs .

Financial Aid Deadlines

Make sure to submit your application by the applicable New Jersey deadline for Academic Year 2025-2026 to be considered for State financial aid.

September 15, 2025
Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters – New students, returning students who did not previously receive a Tuition Aid Grant

February 15, 2026
For the Spring 2026 semester only

Have financial aid questions or need live help?

It's essential for students and their families to research and explore all available financial aid options and to complete the necessary applications and paperwork on time to maximize their eligibility for assistance. If you need help with this process, contact the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority for free assistance today!

Call
609-584-4480

Email
CustomerCare@hesaa.org

Last Updated: Thursday, 10/31/24