The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) is the state agency responsible for statewide higher education policy and program coordination, led by the Secretary of Higher Education.
To advocate for and develop policies and programs that provide students from all backgrounds accessible and affordable higher education opportunities that prepare them for success in life after high school.
OSHE licenses degree-granting institutions, coordinates statewide higher education policy, manages federal and state grants, student access and success programs, and monitors institutional fiscal health and publishes data to promote accountability in higher education.
OSHE is an agency composed of higher education researchers, finance and policy analysts, program managers, and administrators working across several divisions to support New Jersey's higher education ecosystem.
State Plan for Higher Education: Where Opportunity Meets Innovation.
OSHE is organized into several divisions and units, each working together under the leadership of the Secretary of Higher Education. The Secretary of Higher Education is appointed by the Governor and serves as the chief executive of OSHE and a member of the Governor's cabinet.
Provides executive leadership, coordination across all OSHE divisions and communication on statewide initiatives.
Authorizes degree-granting institutions to operate in New Jersey, reviews new academic programs and upholds regulations in accordance with state statute.
Develops and coordinates statewide higher education policy, legislative analysis, and strategic planning for the state's higher education ecosystem.
Manages state grants and the disbursement of funding to New Jersey higher education institutions; monitors the fiscal health of public, independent, and proprietary institutions; and produces data reports and dashboards used to promote transparency and accountability.
Manages student-facing programs, including Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), to support students from underserved backgrounds in starting, staying in, and completing college.
The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education traces its roots to 1994, when the state established the Commission on Higher Education after the state's Department of Higher Education was dismantled under the Higher Education Restructuring Act. The Commission became the state-level entity responsible for statewide higher education policy, planning, and advocacy in a more decentralized landscape. In 2010, the state again consolidated the powers and functions of the Commission under the direct leadership of a Secretary of Higher Education appointed by the Governor. This streamlined governance, positioning higher education as a cabinet-level priority.
Since 2018, OSHE has taken an increasingly proactive and integrated approach, supporting the expansion of college access programs, launching student-centered initiatives, and building out the data and research infrastructure empowering student success and institutional accountability. A landmark moment came in 2019 with the release of the State Plan for Higher Education: Where Opportunity Meets Innovation, which established a shared statewide vision for accessible and affordable postsecondary education. Today, OSHE continues that work under the leadership of Secretary Margo Chaly, Esq., appointed by Governor Mikie Sherrill in January 2026.
While OSHE plays a central role in statewide coordination and oversight, several important functions fall outside of our authority.
OSHE does not administer financial aid. State aid is managed by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), and federal aid by the U.S. Department of Education. Funding managed by OSHE is not awarded directly to students.
OSHE cannot currently set or determine tuition. Tuition is set by each institution and its governing board. OSHE does report on tuition and promotes programs that aim to keep college costs down.
Accreditation is handled by regional and national accrediting agencies, not OSHE. OSHE handles state licensure, which affirms that credits and degrees awarded by an institution are verified and valid in New Jersey.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey