How to Receive the NJ STARS Scholarship

NJ STARS: New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship

Here at HESAA, we understand that it can be financially difficult for families to send their children to college, even if those children are exceptional students. However, Grants and Scholarships (i.e. financial aid that does not need to be repaid) can make that dream much more attainable. The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) program was created by the State of New Jersey in 2004 to help provide financial aid for New Jersey’s highest achieving students.

The NJ STARS award can be used to cover the cost of tuition (minus any State and/or Federal grants and scholarships) for up to eighteen credit hours per semester. This blog article should help you understand the basics of the NJ STARS scholarship.

NJ STARS Eligibility

In order to be considered for an NJ STARS scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Resident of the State of New Jersey — The student must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen who is a legal resident of the State of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to high school graduation
• Rank in the Top 15% of Their Class at the end of either their junior or senior year of high school
• Complete a Rigorous Course of Study at the high school level
• Plan on Attending the New Jersey County College in Their Home County — If the student’s desired program of study is not offered at the county college where they reside or is oversubscribed for at least one year, they may attend another New Jersey county college
• Achieve an Acceptable Score on a College Placement Test, Demonstrating College Readiness — If remediation is required, the student must demonstrate college readiness by September 1st of the year following their high school graduation.

For up-to-date eligibility requirements, please refer to the NJ STARS Fact Sheet for the applicable year.

NJ STARS Application

To apply for the NJ STARS award, you will need to:

• Meet All Eligibility Requirements
• Apply for Admission to Your Home County College
• File Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Within State Deadlines (see deadlines for the 2017-2018 school year here)

Once these steps have been completed, you will receive notification regarding your NJ STARS eligibility from your home county college.

NJ STARS Renewal Requirements

Qualifying students may receive an NJ STARS award for up to five semesters of continuous, full-time enrollment in a degree program. However, they must meet additional eligibility requirements to continue receiving the scholarship. They must

• Maintain Continuous, Full-Time Enrollment in an Associate Program at Their Home County College
• Take at Least Twelve College-Level Credits per Semester
• File an Annual FAFSA Within State Deadlines
• Attain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or Higher by the Start of Their Second Year of Enrollment

Successful NJ STARS scholars who wish to transfer to a New Jersey four-year public or private university or college in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree may be eligible to receive the NJ STARS II award.