"You do the work, you make the grades, and the NJ STARS Program will cover the cost."
What is NJ STARS?
The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) Program is an initiative created by the State of New Jersey that provides New Jersey’s highest achieving students with free tuition and approved fees at their home county college. Students who are eligible for the NJ STARS Program may receive NJ STARS scholarship if their eligible tuition and fees are not already covered by other federal or state grants and scholarships.
For students who began the program during or after the Spring 2009 semester, an NJ STARS scholarship can cover the cost of eligible tuition and fees up to 18 credits (if not already covered by other federal or state grants and scholarships) . The NJ STARS scholarship will NOT cover any developmental coursework.
For students who began the program prior to the Spring 2009 semester, the NJ STARS award may cover the cost of eligible tuition and fees up to 15 credits. Students must be enrolled for at least 12 college level credits per semester to be eligible for the NJ STARS scholarship.
What are “eligible tuition and fees”?
Eligible tuition and fees is a fancy way of saying that NJ STARS will cover the tuition associated with the courses that you have enrolled in as well as the general, technology, distance education, telecourse, and course fees associated with those courses. If you already have other federal grants and scholarships, those will be applied to your tuition and fees first. It is possible that you will not receive an NJ STARS scholarship, but you will still be eligible for the program.
In many cases, students are eligible for other scholarships that may assist with covering any outstanding costs that you have. Be sure to complete a Freshman Scholarship Application and submit your official final high school transcript to the Financial Aid Office so that your eligibility for these scholarships can be reviewed. For fastest service, please submit a separate official final high school transcript to the financial aid office in addition to the one that you submit to the admissions office.
If you drop a class after the start of the semester, the NJ STARS scholarship will not cover the costs associated with that class.
How do I apply for NJ STARS?
You must begin as a full time ( at least 12 credits) student no later than the 5th semester following high school graduation. Therefore, you may still be eligible for the NJ STARS program if you graduated in 2008.
If you have or will graduate in the top 15% of your high school class you have already done most of the work. Although new legislation for the NJ STARS program requires that students complete an academically rigorous high school program, the State of New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJ HESAA) has waived this eligibility requirement pending the definition of an academically rigorous high school program.
Now all you need to do is complete the FAFSA for the upcoming year. For the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters, please complete the 2009-2010 FAFSA. If you will be applying for the 2010-2011 academic year, you can complete the 2010-2011 FAFSA as soon as January 1, 2010.
Be sure to meet with your NJ STARS Academic Advisor, Elizabeth Ramos (ramos@ucc.edu) before you register. She will help you make sure that you are selecting the courses that allow you to graduate within 5 semesters so that you won’t lose eligibility for the NJ STARS II program.
Since students are now required to be “college ready” if you place into developmental courses, you will have up to one full academic year after graduation to complete all developmental courses before you begin your NJ STARS program.
Special Circumstances
Students who postpone college attendance must be enrolled full time at their home county college by the fifth semester after high school graduation to retain eligibility. Note: 2007 high school graduates had to enroll full time at a New Jersey county college by Fall 2009 semester.
Students who have attended one semester at another postsecondary institution may be eligible for an NJ STARS award provided they enroll full time in a degree program at their home county college the following semester
Students and parent(s) must be permanent New Jersey residents pursuant to regulations established by HESAA
Students must be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and legal New Jersey residents for a minimum of twelve consecutive months prior to high school graduation.
If you have further questions about what NJ STARS is, please refer to HESAA’s website at www.hesaa.org, keyword NJ STARS, or click here.
What do I have to do to stay an NJ STARS student?
Students must achieve a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher prior to the third semester of enrollment. Summer courses are included in determining the GPA
Students must maintain continuous full-time enrollment unless on a medical leave, approved by the county college, due to the illness of the student, a member of the student’s immediate family, or a family emergency. The only other exception applies to NJ STARS students called to partial or full mobilization for State or federal active duty as a member of the National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States
Students may receive the scholarship for up to five semesters. Students who began the NJ STARS program during the Spring 2009 semester or after may use the NJ STARS scholarship during the summer if they are full time.
What's NJ STARS II?
NJ STARS II allows students who graduate while in the NJ STARS I program to receive the NJ STARS II scholarship at a New Jersey State College or University. If you graduate with at least a 3.25 GPA, have a family income less than $250,000, and meet all other program eligibility requirements, you may be eligible to receive an NJ STARS II award.
If you graduate with at least a 3.25 GPA, but less than a 3.50 cumulative GPA, you may be eligible for a scholarship of up to $6,000 (or $3,000 per semester) at a New Jersey State College or University.
If you graduate with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA you may be eligible for a scholarship of up to $7,000 (or $3,500 per semester) at a New Jersey State College or University.
You must complete your FAFSA each academic year by October 1st for fall and spring terms or by March 1st for spring term only. If you received a TAG award you must complete your FAFSA by June 1st.
New Jersey State Colleges and Universities
The College of New Jersey
Kean University
Montclair State University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New Jersey City University
Ramapo College of New Jersey
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Rowan University
Rutgers University
Thomas Edison State College
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
William Paterson University of New Jersey
For more information on the NJ STARS I or the NJ STARS II Programs, please visit the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJ HESAA) at HESAA’s website at www.hesaa.org, keyword NJ STARS II, or click here.
To view your financial aid award at UCC, log into e-services.
If you have further questions about applying for financial aid, please contact Jessica at montesdeoca@ucc.edu
If you have further questions about your academics, please contact Elizabeth at ramos@ucc.edu.