All You Need To Know About Scholarships for College Students in NJ

Are you headed to the Garden State to get your college or graduate degree? New Jersey is a popular choice for students because of its top-notch colleges and universities, sandy beaches, and a rich choice of activities.

The resurfacing problem of the State of New Jersey is its notoriously high cost of studies. To balance it out, the state, schools, and private institutions offer scholarships for college students in NJ.

Don’t give up on your dream—you have gift-aid opportunities that can help you pay for the school you want to attend. Use this simple guide to learn all there is to know about financing your NJ education.

Eligibility Requirements for Federal and State Scholarships in New Jersey

While private and college-specific scholarships express their eligibility requirements in the program descriptions, federal and state aid have general criteria—such as:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen
• Be a New Jersey resident for at least 12 months before the enrollment
• Have a high school diploma or a recognized equivalent
• Demonstrate financial need
• Be an undergraduate student enrolled full-time in an approved program
• Maintain a satisfactory academic achievement
• Be registered with Selective Service (if necessary)
• Don’t have a baccalaureate or associate degree if enrolled in a two-year college
• Have no unpaid loan or grant payments
• Don’t be enrolled in a theology or divinity program

College Scholarships in NJ

College scholarships can be funded by a variety of sources. With that in mind, you should revise these types of aid:

1. State scholarships
2. College-specific scholarships
3. Private scholarships
4. Group-specific scholarships

State Scholarships

To receive state scholarships, you need to meet the federal and state eligibility requirements and reside in one of the following cities:

• Asbury Park City
• Camden City
• East Orange City
• Irvington
• Township
• Jersey City
• Lakewood Township
• Millville City
• Newark
• New
• Brunswick City
• Paterson City
• Plainfield City
• Roselle Borough
• City of Trenton
• Vineland City

If you are a qualified candidate, here are a few notable state programs for you:

• New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS)—for students who rank in the top 15% of their class at the end of their junior or senior year of high school
• Governor’s Urban Scholarship—for students who rank in the top 5% of their class and attain a 3.0 GPA or higher at the end of the junior year in high school
• New Jersey World Trade Center Scholarship—for children and surviving spouses of New Jersey residents killed in the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001
• Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Scholarship (LEOMS)—for children of New Jersey law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty
• Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship (NJ-GIVS) for Women and Minorities—for women and minority group members

College-Specific Scholarships

When you get admitted to a certain college, you get considered for the school’s scholarships automatically. You can get in touch with prospective colleges to ask about their aid opportunities. Some of the popular schools in NJ are:

• Princeton University
• Monmouth University
• Montclair State University
• The College of New Jersey
• Kean University
• New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Brookdale Community College
• Ramapo College of New Jersey
• Rutgers University

Private Scholarships

Foundations, for- and non-profit organizations, philanthropists, and corporations can provide funds for students who support or promote their missions. Private scholarships in NJ that you should look into are:

• Frank D. Visceglia Memorial Scholarship—for high school seniors who are Eagle Scouts
• New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA) Caddie Scholarship Foundation—for caddies
• Meland Foundation Nursing Scholarships—for prospective nurses
• New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) One-Year Scholarships—for future financial services leaders
• NJ Sharing Network Foundation: the Betsy Niles Scholarship and Missy’s Miracle Scholarship—for students who are lifelong organ donation advocates

Group-Specific Scholarships

If you belong to or can relate to a certain group—such as moms, Asians, Christians, or football players—you can receive a specific scholarship. Think about your demographic, descent, religion, and interests, and you can discover a program that you can apply for.

Check out the table below for some unique groups and scholarships awarded to their members:

Where To Find New Jersey Scholarships

If you want to find all scholarships you qualify for, you need to be meticulous and persistent. Turn to different sources to gather information about aid possibilities and requirements. A good place to start is to do the following:

• Call or email the financial aid offices at your prospective schools
• Contact your local community
• Ask organizations you are a member of about their scholarship options
• Perform an internet search

A better way to surface every grant and scholarship you can get is to use the DoNotPay app. Let us know about your needs and preferences, and we’ll generate a custom-made list of gift aid in a jiffy.

How To Apply for NJ College Scholarships

Besides following the specific requirements set by the funders, for most scholarships, you will need to take these application steps:

1. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in one of these ways:
   1. Find an online form on FAFSA official website
   2. Download the PDF form from the website
   3. Request a paper FAFSA copy by calling 1-800-433-3243
2. Submit the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application—for students who don’t meet the federal eligibility requirements
3. Write a scholarship essay—the topics depend on the program, and they can be more general—such as what your career goals are or why you deserve the aid—or related to the funder’s mission
4. Collect letters of recommendation

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Whether you need undergraduate, graduate, or international students scholarships, DoNotPay has your back! Our nifty app will create a tailored list of every aid type you can apply for—yours is only to:

1. Open the DoNotPay app and sign in
2. Navigate to and choose the Apply for Scholarship tool
3. Answer our chatbot’s questions

If you spot no-essay scholarships you are eligible for, we can send the application request in your stead.

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