Federal Grants and New Jersey State Grants and Scholarships

• Federal Pell Grant
• Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
• National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)
• New Jersey Educational Opportunity (EOF) Grant
• New Jersey Garden State Scholars Program

How do I qualify?
To determine if you are eligible, the U.S. Department of Education uses a standard eligibility formula, established by Congress, to evaluate the information you report when you apply (see "Applying for Financial Aid"). The formula produces an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) amount. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) contains this amount and will tell you if you're eligible.

How much money can I get?
Awards for the 2007-2008 funding year (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008) range from $400.00 to a maximum of $4310.00 per year.

This is a new grant program that began in the 2006-2007 award year for full time undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible program, who receive Federal Pell Grants and are U.S. citizens. Students must also have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/about/ac-smart/state-programs06.html) and be enrolled in at least a two-year academic program acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree or enrolled in a graduate degree program that includes three years academic years of undergraduate education.

• First year ACG recipients must have graduated high school after Jan. 1, 2006. They must be in an eligible program. The first year ACG award is $750.00.
• Second year ACG recipients must have graduated high school after Jan. 1, 2005. They must be in an eligible program and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The award is up to $1,300 for the second academic year.

                                    ACG and National SMART Grant Amounts for 2009-2010

PROGRAM/YEAR IN SCHOOL	FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT Scheduled Award	THREE-QUARTER TIME ENROLLMENT Annual Award	HALF-TIME ENROLLMENT Annual Award
ACG - FIRST YEAR	$750	$563	$375
ACG - SECOND YEAR	$1,300	$975	$650
NATIONAL SMART GRANT - THIRD YEAR	$4,000	$3,000	$2,000
NATIONAL SMART GRANT – FOURTH YEAR	$4,000	$3,000	$2,000
NATIONAL SMART GRANT – FIFTH YEAR	$4,000	$3,000	$2,000

This is a new grant program for full time undergraduate students who are enrolled in the third or fourth academic year of an eligible program, who receive Federal Pell Grants and are U.S. citizens. An eligible program in the National SMART Grant is one that leads to a bachelor’s degree in an eligible major that includes at least three academic years of undergraduate education. The award is up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth academic years. Students must:

• Be pursuing and eligible major in physical, life, or computer sciences, engineering, technology, mathematics or a critical-need foreign language.
• Have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA

A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need; that is, students with the lowest expected family contribution (EFC). Priority is given to students who receive Federal Pell Grants. An FSEOG does not have to be paid back.

How much can I get?
You can receive between $ 100 and $ 2,000 a year, depending upon your level of need, and the availability of funds.

Tuition Aid Grants are awarded to full-time undergraduate students who have been legal residents of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months before enrolling in a New Jersey institution. Students who have received a baccalaureate degree do not qualify.

The award amounts for the 2007-2008 award year range from $ 1,676 to a maximum of $ 7,922 based upon the student's need, the cost to attend the college, and the funds available for distribution. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the "Renewal Application" is required to apply for this grant. This is a state financial aid program that is administered by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

The New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund Grant is awarded to both undergraduate and graduate students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds with demonstrated financial need. To participate in this program, students must be legal residents of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment. Applicants must be full-time matriculated students in a New Jersey college or university.

Undergraduate grants range from $ 1,150 to $ 1,400 per year and graduate grants up to $ 2,850 per year depending on college costs and financial need. Grants are renewable annually based upon satisfactory academic progress and continued financial eligibility. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the "Renewal Application" is required to apply for this grant.

For more information about the EOF Program, contact the Undergraduate or Graduate Office of Admissions or EOF Office of the college you plan to attend at Rutgers University. The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) is a state-sponsored program. For more information, visit the website for the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education.

The State of New Jersey offers financial assistance to high-achieving students through the Garden State Scholarship Program. Two scholarship funds are administered through this program: The Edward J.Bloustein Distinguished Scholars Program and the Urban Scholars Program.

To be eligible for these scholarships, students must be nominated by their high school guidance departments to the New Jersey Education Student Assistance Authority. Recipients must attend a New Jersey postsecondary institution. Students who accept these scholarships must enroll as a full-time undergraduate student. The scholarship recipient must be a New Jersey resident for at least 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment. Financial need is not a factor in determining eligibility. The recipient may also receive TAG and EOF grants if eligible. While filing a FAFSA is not mandatory; students are encouraged to complete a financial aid application to determine eligibility for additional federal, state, and campus-based financial assistance. This award is renewable based upon satisfactory academic progress, continued undergraduate enrollment in a New Jersey college or university, and continued program funding.

• Edward J.Bloustein Distinguished Scholars Program: This program offers scholarships to the highest achieving students at New Jersey's secondary schools without regard to financial need. For the 2007-08 academic year, the annual award is $930. Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars are awarded to students demonstrating the highest level of academic achievement based upon their secondary school records and junior year Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, or who rank first, second, or third in their class.
• Urban Scholars Program: These scholarships recognize academically talented students from New Jersey's urban and economically distressed areas (Type A and B school districts as defined by the New Jersey Department of Education). For the 2007-08 academic year, the annual award is $930 for students who rank in the top 10% of their class and have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 or equivalent scale) at the end of their junior year. Scholarships under the Urban Scholars Program are offered without regard to financial need.