Office of the Secretary of Higher Education[TRENTON, N.J. - November 12, 2025] — Today, the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) awarded $1.2 million in Hunger-Free Campus Act grants to 36 institutions of higher education across the state to support campus-based resources, including food pantries and outreach connecting students with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
This round of awardees reflects the grant’s widest reach since being created under the 2019 law (P.L. 2019, C.89), with 90% of all public colleges and universities and 57% of eligible independent public-mission institutions receiving funding. In total, the state has invested $6.4 million over the last six years to address food insecurity among college students under the Act.
“These grants reflect our unwavering commitment to making higher education more affordable and accessible for every student,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Addressing food insecurity is essential to student well-being and academic success, and we are proud to support colleges in building the safe and supportive campus environments all students deserve.”
“Today’s students are entering higher education from a wider range of backgrounds than ever before, thanks to our work to expand educational access,” said Secretary of Higher Education Brian K. Bridges. “As we have created more opportunities for residents to pursue life-changing degrees and credentials, many students still face real barriers to completing college, including food insecurity. That’s why strengthening our student support infrastructure from the state level remains essential.”
This year, OSHE applied a new equity-focused distribution model that considered each institution’s percentage of Pell Grant-eligible students to reach those experiencing the greatest need and to respond following disruptions in federal food assistance. Findings from OSHE’s Spring 2025 Student Food Security Survey of 11,877 students show that half of Pell-receiving respondents were food insecure. The survey also found:
“These awards are the latest example of New Jersey’s investment in making food security a reality for everyone, everywhere. For college students to get help completing school meal applications for their children or applying for SNAP, being welcomed to use donated meal credits or shop for their households, means alleviating the stress that can derail their studies,” said Mark Dinglasan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate. “I appreciate Secretary Bridges and his team, and the Hunger-Free Campus partners. Their work is transforming the health and well-being of their campuses, with the benefits rippling out to neighbors for generations to come.”
Through this grant program, institutions achieve a Hunger-Free designation and work to address student hunger through a Campus Hunger Task Force, a physical campus food pantry, and awareness raising initiatives.
Grant awards for fiscal year 2026 are as follows:
| Institution | Award |
|---|---|
| Atlantic Cape Community College | $52,500.00 |
| Bergen Community College | $27,500.00 |
| Brookdale Community College | $17,500.00 |
| Camden County College | $27,500.00 |
| Centenary University | $27,500.00 |
| County College of Morris | $17,500.00 |
| Drew University | $17,500.00 |
| Essex County College | $52,500.00 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | $17,500.00 |
| Felician University | $52,500.00 |
| Georgian Court University | $27,500.00 |
| Hudson County Community College | $52,500.00 |
| Kean University | $52,500.00 |
| Mercer County Community College | $27,500.00 |
| Middlesex College | $27,500.00 |
| Monmouth University | $27,500.00 |
| Montclair State University | $52,500.00 |
| New Jersey City University | $52,500.00 |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | $52,500.00 |
| Ocean County College | $17,500.00 |
| Ramapo College | $17,500.00 |
| Raritan Valley Community College | $27,500.00 |
| Rowan College at Burlington County | $27,500.00 |
| Rowan College of South Jersey | $27,500.00 |
| Rowan University | $27,500.00 |
| Rutgers University, Camden | $52,500.00 |
| Rutgers University, New Brunswick | $17,496.00 |
| Rutgers University, Newark | $52,500.00 |
| Saint Peters University | $52,500.00 |
| Salem Community College | $27,500.00 |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | $17,500.00 |
| Stockton University | $27,500.00 |
| Sussex County Community College | $27,500.00 |
| The College of New Jersey | $17,500.00 |
| Union College of Union County, New Jersey | $27,500.00 |
| William Paterson University | $52,504.00 |
| Total | $1,200,000.00 |
| Note: The grant awardees for fiscal year 2026 include 16 community colleges, 12 public four-year colleges, and 8 independent public-mission institutions. | |
“The struggle to afford to put food on the table is a challenge for a growing number of families and individuals, including college students,” said Senate President Nick Scutari. “Food insecurity can have a damaging impact on students’ health and ability to learn. These grants will help prevent hunger on college campuses so that our students can focus on classroom learning and make the most of their education.”
“We know that when we make sure our students are fed, what we’re really doing is giving them a chance to succeed in the classroom and life beyond. It is because of that belief that we continue to prioritize these grants in the state budget year after year, and why addressing hunger in our colleges remains a key part of our broader effort to rein in food insecurity once and for all,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “I’m proud of the work we have done to tackle hunger here in our state, and through the Hunger-Free Campus grants announced today, we're ensuring that our colleges have adequately stocked food pantries on campus to help students who are trying to balance the cost of a higher education with basic life necessities. I want to commend the colleges that have stepped up to meet this moment with us.”
About New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education: The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) is the leading state agency for higher education policy development and statewide program coordination in New Jersey. Under the leadership of Secretary Brian Bridges, Ph.D., the office works to enhance postsecondary opportunity with a focus on equity, access and affordability for students from all backgrounds. OSHE is dedicated to shaping a strong and inclusive higher education landscape and strategically collaborates with a diverse array of partners to inform best practice, student-centered strategies that empower success. Learn more.
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