Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application for a variety of financial aid sources - grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study - to help you pay for college or career school. It's a key step in figuring out what you're eligible for, but it is a detailed application, and it requires you to have access to important documents and to understand a few key things.

NJ Dreamers should fill out the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application. Who are Dreamers? These are residents who are not eligible for the FAFSA but may be eligible for State financial aid if they meet applicable criteria.

Key Resources

• FAFSA Deadlines – School, State, Federal
• Who Is My "Parent" When I Fill out the FAFSA Form?
• Find out if you're a dependent or independent student

In terms of documents, you'll need:

• Your Social Security #
• Your parent(s)' or guardian(s)' Social Security numbers if you are a dependent student
• Your driver's license number (if applicable) or Alien Registration number if you are not a U.S. citizen
• Federal tax information, tax documents, or tax returns for you (and your spouse, if you are married), and for your parents if you are a dependent student: IRS W-2, IRS 1040, Foreign tax return or IRS 1040NR, Tax return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau
• Records of your untaxed income, such as child support received, interest income, and veterans non-education benefits, for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student
• Information on cash; savings and checking account balances; investments, including stocks and bonds and real estate; and business and farm assets for you, and for your parents if you are a dependent student

Check out the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). It has free FAFSA workshops and other resources (including additional grants or loans). Call 609-584-4480 or 800-792-8670 (English and Español) for more information. They also have a "Financial Aid Shopping Sheet," which allows you to estimate educational expenses, scholarships, loans, and other funds needed to cover the cost of attending school.

New Jersey Financial Aid Monitoring System (NJFAMS). Once students complete their FAFSA or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application, they will need to create an NJFAMS account or log in to their existing account and monitor their 'To Do List.' This list will show if there are any more documents or information the State needs from a student before they can view their available financial aid. Once that process is complete, students will be able to view and monitor their State financial aid in their NJFAMS account.

New Jersey offers a number of generous grants and scholarships to help eligible residents attend college in our state at a reduced cost. Here are some of the financial aid programs available.

Tuition Aid Grants (TAG). Offer need-based assistance to New Jersey students enrolled at approved New Jersey colleges and universities. TAG awards are based on factors such as family income level and the type of institution at which a student enrolls. TAG awards cover a significant portion of tuition for nearly one-third of all full-time undergraduate students.

Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG). Pays for the cost of tuition and approved educational fees to attend your local community college, which are not already covered by other federal and State financial aid or scholarships. The program is for New Jersey residents with an eligible Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). 

To be eligible for a Community College Opportunity Grant, students must:

• Be a New Jersey resident with an AGI between $0 - $65,000
• Complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application by applicable state deadlines
• Enroll in at least six (6) credits per semester at one of New Jersey's community colleges
• Have not yet earned a college degree
• Make satisfactory academic progress

Garden State Guarantee (GSG). Pays for the cost of tuition and approved educational fees to attend a four-year public college or university in New Jersey during your third and fourth years of study, which are not already covered by other federal and State financial aid or scholarships. The program is for New Jersey residents with an eligible Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). 

To be eligible for the Garden State Guarantee, students must:

• Be a New Jersey resident with an AGI between $0 - $65,000
• Complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application by applicable state deadlines
• Enroll full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) at a New Jersey public four-year college or university
• Be in your third (60-89 credits) and fourth (90-126 credits) years of study.
• Have not yet earned a Bachelor's degree
• Make satisfactory academic progress

See other grants and scholarships offered in New Jersey.

Educational Opportunity Fund. This program is administered at a campus level and provides financial assistance and support services (e.g. counseling, tutoring, and developmental course work) to students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who attend participating institutions of higher education in the State of New Jersey. Undergraduate grants range from $200 annually to $3,050 annually depending on the type of institution and financial need. These grants are renewable based upon continued eligibility. Here is information on how to apply.