The Governor’s Urban Scholarship program is a merit-based scholarship that benefits students in New Jersey’s economically challenged communities. The award is valued at $1,000 each year ($500 per semester) for up to four years (eight semesters).
There is no separate application for the scholarship; eligible students will be notified by the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) in December of their senior year.
To be eligible for this award, you must meet all the following criteria:
- Be a New Jersey resident for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to receiving the award.
- Reside in one of the high-need designated communities in New Jersey: Asbury Park City, Burlington City, Bridgeton, Camden City, East Orange City, Elizabeth, Garfield, Gloucester City, Harrison, Hoboken, Irvington Township, Jersey City, Keansburg, Lakewood, Long Branch, Millville City, Neptune Township, Newark City, New Brunswick City, Orange, Passaic City, Paterson City, Pemberton Township, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Plainfield City, Pleasantville, Roselle Borough, Salem City, Trenton City, Union City, Vineland City, or West New York.
- Achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 by the end of the junior year in high school and rank in the top 5% of their class.
- Be a U.S. citizen, an eligible non-citizen, or eligible to file the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application.
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year and have a New Jersey Eligibility Index (NJEI) less than 10,500.
- Be Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) eligible (if at any point in time the student is no longer eligible for TAG funding, the Urban Scholarship money will be removed.)
- Be matriculated full-time in an eligible academic program.
- Make satisfactory academic progress.
To renew the award for 2024-25, students must complete the FAFSA or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application by May 15, 2024 and meet all program eligibility requirements.