NJ GEAR UP Scholarship

Scholarships are available to students who participated in one of the NJ GEAR UP State Project programs in 7th grade and remained active through their senior year in high school. Students who enroll in a bachelor's or associate degree program at a licensed, degree-granting college or university in New Jersey and adhere to the guidelines governing the scholarship may receive up to the maximum Pell Grant Award each semester that they are eligible.

Awards are contingent upon federal funding and are not guaranteed. Awards may be renewed for up to 8 semesters for a 4-year degree program and up to 4 semesters for a 2-year degree program. Students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

For Students

Frequently Asked Questions for students

CHE will no longer mail forms to your home address. You must download the form or get one from your former GEAR UP program office and submit by the deadline. Please send your email address if you would like to receive electronic updates and notices.

Download scholarship forms:

Send your form directly to CHE at the address listed on the form or by fax. Do not give them to a 3rd party for submission. You are ultimately responsible for making sure your forms arrive on time.

Deadlines

  • June 1 for students who enroll in the fall semester.
  • November 1 for students who enroll in the spring semester (students who enroll at the same school in the fall and spring do not have to submit a new form in November).
  • If you miss the June 1 deadline, you may submit your form by November 1 to receive the scholarship for the spring semester.

Late or incomplete forms will not be accepted. DO NOT WAIT FOR YOUR TERM BILL OR AWARD LETTER. GEAR UP will not likely be listed.

If you transfer to another school, you must submit an updated form.

Student Responsibility

Graduating high school seniors: verify your eligibility with your GEAR UP program staff. If you are eligible for the GEAR UP Scholarship, you must do the following to receive funding:

  • Submit the scholarship form on time each year.
  • Enroll in a bachelor's or associate degree program - not a certificate program.
  • Comply with any rules set by your college.
  • Students aged 18 and over must handle their own financial aid affairs. We can only provide limited information to parents.
  • If you fail to meet state and/or federal deadlines you will forfeit the scholarship for that semester.  

If you have an issue, see you financial aid office first. If you need to call or email GEAR UP, give your name, school and the name of the financial aid staff that you spoke with at your college.

For Financial Aid Representatives

The following information is available to help understand the GEAR UP scholarship process.

Important facts:

  • Only students that submit a form to CHE will be on the roster sent to your college.
  • Currently, the award matches the maximum Pell Grant amount.
  • Fall awards are mailed in July and spring awards are mailed in December.
  • The GEAR UP award is to be applied last and any overage is to be returned to CHE, not given to the student as a refund.
  • Please fax the roster back to CHE indicating that you have recieved and processed the checks.
  • Enrollment is certified in October for the fall semester and in April for the spring semester.

 

Eligibility Rules

Download the Eligibility Requirements for a complete list of rules.

You are eligible if you:

  • Participated as a GEAR UP Student in on of the NJ GEAR UP State Project Programs in 7th grade and remained active in the program through 12th grade according to the program director.
  • Attend a Title IV eligible, degree-granting institution in New Jersey that offers associate or bachelor's degrees.
  • Transfer from one NJ GEAR UP eligible institution to another NJ GEAR UP eligible institution.
  • Delay enrollment and/or submit the scholarship form no later than the second fall semester following high school graduation and enroll in an institution that is NJ GEAR UP eligible.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as established by your school.

You are NOT eligible if you:

  • Did not participate as a GEAR UP student in one of the NJ GEAR UP State Project Programs in 7th grade or did not remain active in the program through 12th grade.
  • Participated in a GEAR UP Partnership Program.
  • Did not graduate high school.
  • Enroll in an out-of-state institution.
  • Enroll in a non-Title IV eligible, degree-granting institution that does not offer associate or bachelor's degrees.
  • Do not enroll in an associate or bachelor's degree program. Students in certificate programs are not eligible.
  • Transfer from an out-of-state institution to an eligible New Jersey institution.
  • Apply for the scholarship and/or enroll in an eligible New Jersey institution after the second fall semester following high school graduation.

Partnership Programs

The NJ GEAR UP State Project is separate from the GEAR UP Partnership programs and does not provide scholarship funding for the partnership programs. If you did not attend one of the State Project programs, you must contact your project director or school district for information.

For Vineland GEAR UP Program Students: The Vineland GEAR UP Partnership Program is not associated with the NJ GEAR UP State Project. If you were in the Vineland GEAR UP program and not the C.H.A.M.P./GEAR UP program at Rowan University, you are not eligible for the NJ GEAR UP State Project Scholarship. Please contact the Vineland Public Schools with questions and concerns. The contact for eligibility requirements is Linda Santagata, Supervisor of Instruction, (856) 794-6700, extension 2357 or http://www.vineland.org/gearup/index.htm

Students in other GEAR UP partnership programs- Contact your school district for information.

 
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