New Jersey financial aid programs for state residents

Our state provides a wealth of additional educational programs with many New Jersey financial aid options. And if you need assistance navigating the programs and the process, we are here to help:

Financial Aid Office

(908) 852-1400 ext. 2350

[email protected]

New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA)

New Jersey residents may be eligible for New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) programs, including:

NJCLASS loans that may offer better terms in some circumstances than FAFSA grants and scholarships

New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS II)

The NJ STARS II program was created by the State of New Jersey and is administered by HESAA to provide New Jersey’s highest achieving students with tuition assistance when they transfer from a community college to a four-year institution to earn a bachelor’s degree. Centenary will match your NJ STARS II grant to double your benefit. This award can be combined with other scholarship and grant opportunities at Centenary. You can apply by opening an account for applying to Centenary and then following links to the NJ STARS II program. If you would like help in the process, we are here for you. Call us at (866) 696-8106 or email us at [email protected]

New Jersey Survivor Tuition Benefits Program and the Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Scholarship

You can find out more about these two programs here.

The Survivor Tuition Benefits Program (STB) helps eligible children and surviving spouses of New Jersey firefighters, emergency service workers, and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty earn a bachelor’s degree.
The Law Enforcement Officer Memorial (LEOM) Scholarship benefits dependent children of New Jersey law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

NJBEST Scholarship

The NJBEST Scholarship provides a tax-free scholarship to beneficiaries of an NJBEST 529 College Savings Plan provided the beneficiary attends a college in New Jersey, the account has been open at least four years before the student enrolls in college, and contributions are $1,200 or greater by the time the student enrolls in college.

New Jersey Foster Care Scholars Program

The NJFC Scholars Program provides funding for eligible youth who have experienced a CP&P out-of-home placement, CP&P independent living arrangement, or transitional living program and are seeking a post-secondary degree at an accredited two year or four-year college, university, or a career/technical school.

World Trade Center (WTC) Scholarship

The WTC scholarship benefits dependent children and surviving spouses of New Jersey residents who were killed or died as a result of injuries sustained by the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on September 11, 2001. The award also benefits the dependents of those who died as a result of illness caused by exposure to the attack sites.

NJ Dreamers

If you are an NJ Dreamer, a resident who was brought to the United States as a child without documentation and meets certain criteria, and are not eligible for financial assistance under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you may still be eligible for state financial aid through the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application. Learn more about this application below.

Educational Opportunity Program at Centenary

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is a state-funded program for New Jersey students who are educationally and economically challenged and who are greatly underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (S.T.E.M.), and in the professions related to these fields. Learn more about our thriving EOP community at Centenary.