New Jersey Programs and Grants

The Governor’s Urban Scholarship Program provides a merit award to high-achieving students who reside in New Jersey’s 14 designated high-need communities. Annual awards of up to $1,000 are available for qualified students. Students must rank within the top five (5%) percent of their class and have a minimum 3.0 GPA at the end of their junior year of high school and meet other basic eligibility and renewal criteria.

The NJ STARS II program allows successful NJ STARS scholars to transfer to a New Jersey four-year public or non-public college or university and earn a bachelor’s degree. The NJ STARS II Scholarship is valued at $1,250 per semester ($2,500 per academic year – traditional fall and spring semesters only). Students must be NJ STARS recipients or non-funded during the semester of county college graduation and graduate with an associate’s degree and GPA of 3.25 or higher. While there is no consideration of financial need, the maximum family income (taxable and nontaxable) must be less than $250,000. In addition, the student must be enrolled full-time, apply for all forms of state and federal need-based grants and merit scholarships and begin NJ STARS II program participation no later than the second semester immediately following county college graduation. To be considered for NJ STARS II, students must file a FAFSA each year within established New Jersey State deadlines.

Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) valued up to $13,590 (as per 2022-2023 Award year) per academic year is awarded to students who have resided in New Jersey a minimum of 12 months prior to receipt of the grant. In addition, students must be enrolled full-time at a New Jersey college or university. The TAG award is determined upon the “need” of the student as supplied by the information on the FAFSA.

The New Jersey State Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) provides financial assistance and support services to economically and educationally disadvantaged students. To be eligible, students must be New Jersey state residents for at least 12 consecutive months and meet state established income guidelines. Applicants must be full-time, matriculated students to receive the EOF grant awards valued up to $2,500 per academic year (traditional fall and spring semesters only). All EOF program participants must attend a Pre-freshman EOF Summer Program. Only first-time, full-time freshmen and EOF transfer students are eligible to be admitted to the EOF program. Inquiries should be directed to the FDU EOF Office. In addition, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).