Garden State Guarantee (GSG)
Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), New Jersey
$0 net tuition and fees in the third and fourth years at NJ public four-year colleges for students with family AGI of $0-$65,000.
- How much
- covers remaining tuition and fees (net price of $0) in years 3 and 4
- Who qualifies
- New Jersey resident; AGI between $0 and $65,000 (negative AGI not eligible; parents' AGI for dependent students). Third- or fourth-year student enrolled full time (12+ credits per semester) at a NJ public four-year institution, working toward a first bachelor's degree; satisfactory academic progress.
- For undergrads, transfer students
- US citizen, eligible non-citizen, or NJ Dreamer eligible to file the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Open now · due February 15, 2027 Annual, FAFSA/NJ Alternative Application-driven. 2026-27: renewal TAG recipients April 15, 2026; all other students September 15, 2026 (fall + spring); spring-2027-only applicants February 15, 2027; complete the NJFAMS state record by October 1 (fall) / March 1 (spring). 2027-28: renewal April 15, 2027; all others September 15, 2027; spring 2028 only February 15, 2028.
- How to apply
- File the FAFSA (or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application for NJ Dreamers) by the state deadline
- You are automatically considered
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (hesaa.org), page 2 and page 3
The details
Last-dollar grant for juniors and seniors (60-89 and 90-128 accumulated credits, including accepted transfer, AP and dual-enrollment credits) at New Jersey public four-year institutions: Kean, Montclair State, New Jersey City University, NJIT, Ramapo, Rowan, Rutgers (Camden, New Brunswick, Newark), Stockton, The College of New Jersey, Thomas Edison State and William Paterson. Students with AGI of $0-$65,000 pay a net price of $0 for tuition and fees after federal and state aid and other scholarships. Up to 4 semester payments, or until 128 credits, whichever comes first (no exceptions).
More money from New Jersey
- Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Graduate Grant$200 to $4,900 per year
- Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Undergraduate Grant$200 to $3,050 per year
- NJ STARS IIup to $1,250 per semester (up to 4 semesters)
- Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG)remaining tuition (up to 18 credits per term) and approved fees after other grants
- Governor's Urban Scholarship (GUS)amount not stated on HESAA's pages; set by the annual state budget
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.