FINANCING COLLEGE
Navigating how to pay for college can certainly feel like an overwhelming task. The good news is there are tons of resources available to help you understand the different terms, acronyms, and processes in the financial aid world. This is just a small sample of information to help you begin to explore the available options.
TYPES OF AID
Aid from U.S. Federal Government
There are three types of federal financial aid:
Grants—financial aid that doesn't have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund).
Work-study—a work program through which you earn money to help you pay for school.
Loans—borrowed money for college or career school; you must repay your loans, with interest.
Aid from your Institution
Many schools offer financial aid from their own funds. Find out what might be available to you:
Visit your college's financial aid page on its website, or ask someone in the financial aid office.
Ask at the department that offers your course of study; they might have a scholarship for students in your major.
Fill out any applications the school requires for its own aid, and meet the deadlines.
Aid from your State Government
Even if you're not eligible for federal aid, you might be eligible for financial aid from your state. Contact your state grant agency for more information.
Aid from a Private Organization
Many organizations offer scholarships or grants to help students pay for school.
Visit our Scholarship page for more information about scholarships.
FAFSA: FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID
FREE APPLICATION FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)
All students must fill out the FAFSA to qualify for the four types of aid: grants, loans (both parent and student loans), work study positions, and need-based scholarships. Think you can’t afford a private school? Remember that the amount of financial aid given to families will change depending on the price of the school. Parents are encouraged to fill out the form regardless of their income level and apply as soon after October 1st as possible to take advantage of state and federal monies given on a first come first serve basis. Additionally, some schools require the FAFSA on file prior to awarding some need based scholarships. Applying for the FAFSA is always free. Learn more and apply for the FAFSA HERE.
Things to remember regarding the FAFSA
The FAFSA Application opens up on October 1st. Please complete your paperwork as soon as possible! In New Jersey awards are made until the funds are depleted, so an earlier filing is better.
Schools and states also use the FAFSA to award non-federal aid. Students need to meet the priority filing date to maximize their financial aid awards. Be sure to check the schools you’re interested in for their specific priority financial aid deadlines.
All students should consider applying for financial aid because you won't know if you qualify unless you apply!
For information visit www.fafsa.gov (online application) and www.studentaid.ed.gov or call 1-800-433-3243 Federal Student Aid Information Center.
8_steps_howToApply.pdf8 Steps for Applying for Federal and State Aid
8_steps_howToApply_Spanish.pdf8 Steps for Applying for Federal and State Aid (SPANISH VERSION)
CSS Profile
WHAT is the CSS Profile?
The CSS Profile is an online application that collects information used by nearly 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal aid. (For federal aid you must complete the FAFSA, available Oct. 1 at fafsa.ed.gov.) Some colleges may require the CSS Profile from both biological/adoptive parents in cases of divorce or separation.
WHEN do I complete the CSS Profile?
You may complete the CSS Profile as early as Oct. 1, 2020. You should submit no later than two weeks before the EARLIEST priority filing date specified by your colleges.
WHO must complete the CSS Profile?
Check your colleges’ information to determine whether they require the CSS Profile. A list of participating colleges is also found on the CSS Profile Homepage.
HOW do I complete the CSS Profile?
You submit the CSS Profile at cssprofile.org. Once you sign in, you will find a list of useful documents, such as your federal tax returns and other financial information that you’ll need to have at hand to complete the application. Help is provided within the application and additional help is available by chat, phone, or email by clicking “Contact Us” in the application.
WHAT does the CSS Profile Cost?
The fee for the initial application is $25. Additional reports are $16. Payment may be made via credit or debit card. First-time domestic college applicants may receive CSS Profile fee waivers if the student qualified for an SAT fee waiver, or if the student is an orphan or ward of the court under the age of 24 or based on parental income and family size (e.g. family of 4 would qualify with income of $45,000 or less).
NEW JERSEY ALTERNATIVE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FOR NJ DREAMERS)
The New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application allows undocumented students enrolled in eligible New Jersey colleges and universities to apply for state financial aid.
Complete this application if you are not a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen and meet all of the following criteria:
You are not eligible to file the FAFSA
Attended a New Jersey high school for at least three (3) years
Graduated from a New Jersey high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in New Jersey
Registered for Selective Service (male students only)
Are able to file an affidavit stating that you will file an application to legalize your immigration status or will file an application as soon you are eligible to do so
Students who have completed the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process should file the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application even if they have a Social Security number
RESOURCES
NJ Stars Scholarship Program
NJ Stars: Quick Facts
NJ STARS is a scholarship program exclusively for New Jersey residents that covers the cost of tuition and approved fees at New Jersey's 19 community colleges.
Students who graduate in the top 15 percent of their high school class may be eligible.
Students must complete a rigorous series of high school courses as a first step toward eligibility, as determined by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the New Jersey Commissioner of Education.
Students must take at least 12 college credits per semester and will be allowed to take up to 18 credits each semester if they are able to handle the course load and wish to accelerate their graduation.
Students will be permitted to use summer sessions as part of their five semesters of eligibility.
Students will be permitted to take fewer than 12 credits in their final semester if they need fewer than 12 credits to graduate.
Students have five (5) semesters of eligibility for NJ STARS.
Students majoring in areas that require an additional 6th semester (for example: nursing and engineering) will pay for the additional semester, but be able to retain their eligibility for NJ STARS II status.
Students will have to take a college placement test selected by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges when they receive their conditional eligibility letter from the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Community colleges will administer the test and may create partnerships with districts to have on-site testing as well.
Students who do not achieve the required placement test scores will be notified by the college that they are currently in need of remediation prior to pursuing college coursework through the NJ STARS program. Students will be able to take appropriate courses while still in high school to improve their skills, or they can attend remedial courses at the community college while enrolled in high school.
Students who graduate from high school and still need remediation will be given up to one year at their own cost or using other non-STARS funds to gain the skills they need to be college ready. They will not be considered NJ STARS scholars until they meet the requirement, but they will still have five semesters of eligibility upon meeting the requirements during that year.
Students who have earned college credits during high school will be able to submit those credits for consideration to the community college, and upon meeting the established criteria should have those credits applied to their degree. Those students who have earned an associate degree with a 3.25 grade point average or better while enrolled in high school will be eligible to apply directly to a senior New Jersey public college or university for inclusion in NJ STARS II.
Dependent students of military families assigned to a military base and whose parents have established New Jersey as their state of residence will be eligible for NJ STARS as long as all other conditions are met.
Students must earn a 3.25 cumulative grade point average upon graduation from community college to be eligible for NJ STARS II
Students who meet the top 15 percent requirement must first apply for all other federal and state financial aid available to them by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually within New Jersey's deadline. If a student receives financial aid, NJ STARS will cover the remaining cost of tuition and fees. If a student is not eligible for financial aid, NJ STARS will cover the entire cost.
NJ STARS students must be enrolled in an associate degree program at a New Jersey community college.
NJ STARS students must maintain continuous full-time enrollment at a New Jersey community college.
NJ STARS students must have a 3.0 or better grade point average moving from freshmen to sophomore years to be eligible for scholarship renewal for the second year.
For more information about NJ STARS and other state-sponsored scholarships and financial aid programs, visit the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
njstars_spanish_web.pdfNJ Stars FactSheetfor2021HSGrad.pdfEducational Opportunity Fund- EOF programs
HESAA EOF 2020-2021 ppt.pdfWhat Is EOF?
The New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) provides financial assistance and support services (e.g. counseling, tutoring, and developmental coursework) to students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who attend participating institutions of higher education in the State of New Jersey.
Am I Eligible?
To participate in one of the multiple but distinct EOF programs, you must meet all of the following requirements:
Meet the academic criteria set by the school you plan to attend
Demonstrate an educationally and economically disadvantaged background
Be a New Jersey resident for at least 12 consecutive months prior to first semester of Rutgers enrollment
Graduate from high school or receive the equivalent of a high school diploma by the time you register at college
Fall within the financial criteria shown on the scale listed to the left.
FactSheetfor2020HSGrad.pdfFree College Grant- tuition free community college now available
CCOG_flyer.pdfCCOG_flyer_spanish.pdfSCHOLARSHIPS
There are thousands of scholarships offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. Scholarships are awarded based on merit, ethnic background, community service, leadership, and personal interests regardless of financial need. Students should be searching and applying for scholarships while they are applying to colleges. Most colleges have scholarship money that they give out on a first come, first serve basis for students who meet specific academic requirements. Check with the colleges you are applying to for specific institutional scholarships.
Visit our SCHOLARSHIPS page for more information and our comprehensive deadline calendar.