NJ Financial Aid Application Graduation Requirement

Under P.L.2023, c.295, to receive a high school diploma, a student in the graduating classes of 2025, 2026, or 2027 must:
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application, or
  • Be exempted from the requirement in accordance with procedures outlined in the law.
Students wishing to be exempted from the financial aid requirement must complete the linked waiver form and return it to their school counselor (note: students under the age of 18 must have a parent/guardian sign off on the form.

Financial Aid Night 

On 10/16/24 participants heard from Montclair State University's Financial Aid Director and Expert, Jim Anderson and HESAA Facilitator, Jessica Sanchez.  Mr. Anderson and Ms. Sanchez presented the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) state presentation covering the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), application for state aid, and more.  A copy of Mr. Anderson and Ms. Sanchez's slides from the fall 2024 presentation may be found by clicking here. 

Here are a few of the highlights:
 
  1. Financial Aid—money to be used toward schooling expenses. 
    1. Scholarships—free money that does not need to be paid back, typically scholarships are offered based on academic performance in high school, performance on the SAT/ACT or for athletics.
    2. Grants—free money that does not need to be paid back, grants are typically given based on financial need (as determined by the FAFSA).
    3. Loans—money that will need to be paid back with interest
    4. Work Study—campus job, this money does not get directly applied to a student’s tuition bill, a student works and earns the money as they go.
  2. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)—all students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) must fill out this form to be eligible for financial aid.  The form will be available to complete beginning December 1st.  Parents and students will need to apply for an FSA ID by going to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
  3. CSS Profile—an additional financial aid form required by many selective colleges.  View the list here. This application opened on October 1st.
  4. NJ Alternative Application—financial aid application for eligible non-citizens.  Students must live in NJ for at least 3 years to be eligible.
  5. NJSTARS- students who end their junior or senior year in the top 15% of their class are eligible to attend Union County College for free (seniors were notified via email of their eligibility).
  6. See slides 24-27 of the linked presentation for information on the following State Grants: Governor’s Industry Vocation Scholarship, Community College Opportunity Grant and the Garden State Guarantee—these programs provide low cost and in some cases free tuition for eligible low-income students.