Governor's Urban Scholarship (GUS)
Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), New Jersey
Merit-and-need scholarship for top-5% students (3.0+ GPA) from 33 designated NJ communities attending a NJ college full time.
- How much
- amount not stated on HESAA's pages; set by the annual state budget
- Who qualifies
- Top 5.0% of high school class with a 3.0+ cumulative GPA at end of junior year; live in one of 33 designated NJ communities at the time of nomination; NJ resident 12 consecutive months before enrolling; NJEI below 10,500; full-time at an approved NJ college; satisfactory academic progress.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- 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 September 15, 2027 Eligibility determined from junior-year class rankings reported by high schools; recipients file the FAFSA/NJ Alternative Application by the state deadline each year (new students: September 15 for fall; renewing TAG recipients: April 15).
- How to apply
- No application: your high school reports class rankings to HESAA and HESAA notifies eligible students, who accept or decline
- You must also file the FAFSA (or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application) every year by the state deadline
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + school nomination
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (hesaa.org), page 2 and page 3
The details
HESAA identifies students from high school junior-class rankings: those in the top 5.0% with a cumulative 3.0+ GPA at the end of junior year who live in a designated high-need community (e.g. Camden, Newark, Paterson, Trenton, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Passaic, New Brunswick, Asbury Park, Vineland and others; 33 in total) are notified and can accept. Financial need required: New Jersey Eligibility Index (NJEI) below 10,500. Half the annual award is paid each semester. Up to 5 semesters at a two-year school, 8 at a four-year school, or 10 for a bona fide five-year program. Students must receive a payment every fall and spring or permanently lose eligibility (one-time leave of absence possible for study abroad, medical reasons or extreme hardship).
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
- Garden State Guarantee (GSG)covers remaining tuition and fees (net price of $0) in years 3 and 4
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.