New Jersey State Financial Aid

Tuition Aid Grant (TAG): New Jersey residents, who attend college full-time in an approved program at a New Jersey institution during the 2023-2024 standard academic year are eligible for up to a $14,404 TAG award per academic year. TAG grants are based on need. Students are eligible for 4.5 years of TAG for a Bachelor's degree and 2.5 years for an Associate's degree.

Students are not eligible if: a Bachelor’s degree has already been earned (or an Associate’s degree if enrolled at a two-year college), they have already received the maximum number of allowable TAG payments (4.5 for a Bachelor’s degree and 2.5 for a Associate’s degree), they owe a refund of a federal or state grant, or in default on a federal or state loan.

For the 2023-2024 year, TAG awards range from $2,176 to $14,404 per academic year. Eligibility is determined by the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). To be considered for a TAG award, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application within established state deadlines. Application deadlines for the 2023-2024 academic year can be found here: https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/StateDeadlinesNextAY.aspx

Eligibility requirements Students must:

Have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent
Demonstrate financial need
Students must be citizens, eligible non-citizens or eligible to file the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application.*
Be a resident of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to enrollment
Maintain satisfactory academic progress (as defined by the U.S. Department of Education)
Be a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in an approved program

* This award is available for undocumented students (see below for New Jersey Dreamers). For full program details and eligibility requirements see: https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/TAG_program.pdf

Summer TAG (Spring 2024): New Jersey residents, who attend college at least part-time in an approved program at a New Jersey institution during the Spring 2024 semester are eligible for up to a $7202 Summer TAG award for the semester. To be considered for a Summer TAG award, students must have received at least one TAG payment during the 2023 - 2024 year.

Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (STARS II): Eligibility for this scholarship includes, but is not limited to, New Jersey STARS students who graduated from a county college, and attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher, may be eligible to receive a NJ STARS II award to earn a Bachelor's degree. Students may receive up to $2,500 per standard academic year. For full program details and eligibility requirements see: https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/NJSTARSII_program.pdf

Governor’s Urban Scholarship Program: This is a merit award for full-time undergraduates enrolled in a degree program. Candidates will be selected for consideration by their high school guidance counselors. Recipients must be in the top five percent of their high school class and have a GPA of 3.00 or higher at the end of their junior year. Recipients must be NJ residents and meet State requirements and filing deadlines. They must also have a New Jersey Eligibility Index below $10,500, and must live in a designated higher need urban community. The award is $1,000 per standard academic year. Recipients of the GUS award who have successfully graduated with a Bachelor’s degree are eligible to receive a GUS persistency award of $500. For full program details and eligibility requirements see: https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/GUSScholarshipProgram.pdf

New Jersey Dreamers: The New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application allows NJ Dreamers) to apply for state financial aid. This application is confidential and is used solely by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to qualify students for state financial aid. It is not used for federal financial aid purposes. Students who are not United States citizens or eligible noncitizens who meet the following criteria may apply: (i) attended a New Jersey high school for at least three (3) years; (ii) graduated from a New Jersey high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in New Jersey; and (iii) are able to file an affidavit stating that he or she has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so. For more information about New Jersey’s Dreamers please use this link https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/NJAlternativeApplication.aspx and/or speak to a Berkeley College Financial Aid Advisor.