Find answers to common questions about OSHE, what we do, who we serve, and how to get help.
The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) is the state agency responsible for statewide higher education policy and program coordination. The Office licenses institutions that award degrees and offer college-credit bearing courses, establishes regulatory requirements for academic programs, and manages federal and state grants that help students start, stay, and complete college.
Under the guidance of the Secretary, the Office collects and reports data and helps steward over $3 billion invested by the state each year to promote accountability and protect the investments students, their families, and New Jersey taxpayers make in higher education.
OSHE's mission is 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.
Our guiding vision: "To ensure every New Jerseyan, regardless of life circumstances, has the opportunity to obtain a high-quality college degree or credential."
Read more in the State Plan for Higher Education: Where Opportunity Meets Innovation
OSHE is an agency composed of public servants and subject matter experts, including higher education researchers, finance and policy analysts, program managers, and administrators. Departments include:
Margo Chaly, Esq. is the Secretary of Higher Education. She was appointed by Governor Mikie Sherrill in January 2026 and is a member of the Governor's cabinet.
Learn more about Secretary Chaly
Yes. OSHE regularly collects data from institutions which are reported in easy-to-explore dashboards. These include information on college costs, enrollment trends, graduate outcomes, and more. OSHE also frequently publishes reports about the impact and outcomes of state programs and policies.
Yes. OSHE offers paid internships and fellowships for college students and recent graduates interested in policy, government, and higher education work. We may also have open employment opportunities.
Learn more about internships and employment opportunities
While making college more affordable is important to us, OSHE does not handle financial aid directly. State financial aid for eligible residents is administered by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). Federal financial aid, like Pell Grants, is managed by the U.S. Department of Education. Students may also be awarded financial aid directly from their institution.
Funding managed by OSHE is not awarded directly to students or individuals.
In New Jersey, the authority to set tuition lies with institutions and their boards. OSHE cannot currently determine or set tuition.
You can find information about OSHE's current programs and initiatives on the OSHE website. Key programs include the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF), our Some College, No Degree initiative, our Basic Needs Info Hub and the Student Mental Health Initiative, among others.
Visit our For Students page
Please carefully review the complaint instructions before submitting. OSHE handles only those complaints that concern educational programs or practices of degree-granting institutions subject to the regulations of OSHE.
Note: OSHE does not handle the following types of complaints:
OSHE will not review a complaint until all grievance procedures of the college or university have been followed.
Go to Complaint Instructions
No. Accreditation is handled by regional and national accrediting agencies. OSHE handles state licensure of institutions, which affirms that credit and degrees awarded by an institution are verified and valid in New Jersey — this is separate from accreditation.
OSHE's Office of Licensure and Accountability provides regulatory oversight to institutions that offer credit-bearing programs in New Jersey.
Visit the Licensure page for more information
OSHE works with institutions of higher education in New Jersey, including community colleges, public colleges, public research universities, independent non-profit institutions, and religious colleges that offer academic programs and college credit-bearing courses in New Jersey.
Private career schools, institutions offering only noncredit courses, and individual professional licensure are not within OSHE's responsibility.
Visit the College & University Directory
You can contact us via our online contact form or by mail:
If your institution has closed or been renamed, transcript and records information may be held by the New Jersey Department of Labor or another designated repository. Please visit our closed institutions page for guidance on how to access your records.
Official Site of The State of New Jersey