NJ STARS II
Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), New Jersey
Up to $1,250 per semester ($2,500 a year) for NJ STARS graduates who transfer to a NJ four-year college.
- How much
- up to $1,250 per semester (up to 4 semesters)
- Who qualifies
- NJ STARS recipient (or non-funded NJ STARS student) at county college graduation; associate degree with 3.25+ cumulative GPA; family income (taxable plus untaxed) under $250,000; admitted to a NJ four-year institution participating in TAG; full-time enrollment; applied for all state and federal grants.
- For transfer students, undergrads
- US citizen, eligible non-citizen, or NJ Dreamer eligible to file the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application
- 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
- Get admitted to a participating NJ four-year college, send it your final county college transcript showing a 3.25+ GPA, file the FAFSA (or NJ Alternative Application) every year by the state deadline and complete your NJFAMS record
- The four-year school notifies eligible students
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + transcript + state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (hesaa.org), page 2 and page 3
The details
Continuation of NJ STARS for students who earn an associate degree at a NJ county college with a 3.25+ cumulative GPA and transfer to a NJ four-year institution that participates in TAG. The award covers tuition (tuition and approved fees for TAG recipients) after other state and federal grants, up to $1,250 per semester, for up to four semesters (no summer). Must begin no later than the second semester after county college graduation, enroll full time (12+ credits), and keep a 3.25 cumulative GPA at the start of the third semester for the third and fourth semesters.
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
- 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
- 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.