The Best Scholarships in New Jersey

New Jersey students, this is your one-stop-shop for finding the New Jersey scholarship that is right for you. With over 400,000 New Jersey students entering a college, university, or technical school in 2019, finding a scholarship can be challenging. Given that the average cost of a New Jersey school is $16,402 a year, with costs of some colleges rising to over $48,000, it is more than likely that you will need to find funding to ease the burden of tuition. Scholarships are a crucial part of funding your education in New Jersey. Take a look at our list of the best scholarships for New Jersey students to find the perfect scholarship for you.

Finding a New Jersey college grant may seem daunting, but with this list, you can find a scholarship that is right for you. This guide not only tells you about the best state scholarships such as the New Jersey Stars Scholarship, but also New Jersey full tuition scholarships for specific fields, such as the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship.

Wherever you plan to study as a New Jersey student, you can find a scholarship that will allow you to graduate with less debt. Read on for the best scholarships in New Jersey.

Looking for scholarships in another state? Check out our other scholarship lists here.

This post is part of our Ultimate FAQ for Applying to Scholarships.

The Best Scholarships in New Jersey for High Achieving Students

1. Governor’s Urban Scholarship Program

• Description: The New Jersey Governor’s Urban Scholarship is a scholarship administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority for students who will graduate in the top five percent of their class and attend a New Jersey school.
• Amount: Award varies
• Requirements: Students must be a legal New Jersey resident entering or attending a New Jersey educational institution. By the end of junior year of high school, students must have achieved at least a 3.0 GPA, and rank in the top five percent of their class. Students must also demonstrate financial need.
• How to Apply: Students must submit the FAFSA and application, including transcripts and letters of recommendation by the April 15^th The application can be found on the HESSA website

2. New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship

• Description: The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority provides this scholarship for academically successful students attending a college, university, or technical institution in their home county.
• Amount: Award varies
• Requirements: Students must be a legal New Jersey resident entering or attending a New Jersey educational institution. Students must graduate high school with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and in the top fifteen percent of their class.
• How to Apply: Students must submit the FAFSA and will be notified of eligibility by their educational institution. Application materials and more information can be found on the HESSA website.

3. Janet Logan Daily Foundation Scholarship

• Description: Managed by the Janet Logan Daily Foundation, the Janet Logan Daily Scholarship Award is available for New Jersey students who have demonstrated academic success and community involvement.
• Amount: $10,000
• Requirements: Students must be a legal New Jersey resident who has been working a part time job and been involved in extra-curricular activities since the age of sixteen. Students must have achieved at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA
• How to Apply: Students must submit materials including application and school counselor recommendation by April 1^st. More information can be found on the Janet Logan Daily Foundation website.

4. Melissa Anne Centrella Scholarship

• Description: This renewable scholarship funded by Melissa’s Hope honors Melissa Anne Centrella, a New Jersey educational community member. The scholarship is intended for students who have demonstrated community involvement and academic success.
• Amount: $3,000
• Requirements: Students must be a New Jersey resident with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Student must provide transcripts and demonstrate involvement in community activities. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to be considered for award renewal each year.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the application, including personal essays, letters of recommendation, and transcripts by March 15^th. More information can be found on the Melissa’s Hope

5. New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II

• Description: The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority provides this scholarship for academically successful students attending a college, university, or technical institution in the state of New Jersey. This is intended to supplement tuition costs not covered by other state grants.
• Amount: Award varies
• Requirements: Students must be a legal New Jersey resident entering or attending a New Jersey educational institution. Students must graduate high school with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and in the top fifteen percent of their class.
• How to Apply: Students must submit the FAFSA and will be notified of eligibility by their educational institution. Application materials and more information can be found on the HESSA website.

The Best Scholarships in New Jersey for Minorities or Underrepresented Groups

1. New Jersey Foster Care Scholars Program

• Description: The New Jersey Foster Care Scholars Program supports students transitioning out of Foster Care and into a college, university, or technical institution. Students who have been placed in a home after their 16^th birthday are also eligible for the scholarship. The scholarship can be used for tuition and associated costs of school.
• Amount: Award varies
• Requirements: Students must be a legal New Jersey resident with a GED or high school diploma. Students must be transitioned out of foster care and attending a New Jersey educational institution.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the FAFSA and New Jersey Foster Care Scholars Application by April 15^th. The application and more information can be found on the New Jersey Foster Care Scholars website.

2. New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund

• Description: The New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund Scholarship is for economically disadvantaged students whose need has not been met by other grants. Students must be attending a New Jersey community college or four-year public or private university.
• Amount: Up to $4,350
• Requirements: Students must be a New Jersey resident attending a New Jersey educational institution. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to receive scholarship renewal each year.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the FAFSA and will be notified of eligibility by their educational institution financial aid department. More information can be found on the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education website.

3. New Jersey American Association of University Women Scholarship

• Description: The New Jersey Chapter of the American Association of University Women provides scholarships to New Jersey women attending a New Jersey college or university. Their mission is to support gender equity in education and fund scholarly opportunities for young women.
• Amount: $2,000
• Requirements: Students must be New Jersey residents attending an eligible New Jersey college or University. Students must demonstrate academic success and commitment to gender equity.
• How to Apply: Submit the online application and supplemental materials by the March 1^st deadline on the New Jersey American Association for University Women website.

4. New Jersey Survivor Tuition Benefits Program

• Description: The New Jersey Survivor Tuition Benefits Program provides scholarships for New Jersey students whose family members were killed in the line of duty. Both part-time and full-time students of any age are eligible for this scholarship administered by the Higher Education Student Aid Authority.
• Amount: Award varies
• Requirements: Students must be New Jersey residents and a surviving family member of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency services worker. Students must demonstrate financial need and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• How to Apply: Students must submit the FAFSA and application package including demonstration of financial need by the April 15^th Application materials and more information can be found on the HESSA website.

5. New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund Graduate Grant

• Description: The New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund Graduate Grant is for economically disadvantaged graduate students whose need has not been met by other grants. Students must be attending a New Jersey community college or four-year public or private university.
• Amount: Award varies
• Requirements: Students must be New Jersey residents who have completed their bachelor’s degrees and are pursuing a graduate degree. Students must demonstrate financial need and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to be considered for scholarship renewal.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the FAFSA and will be notified of eligibility by their educational institution financial aid department. More information can be found on the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education website.

The Best In-State Scholarships and Grants for New Jersey Colleges

1. World Trade Center Scholarships

• Description: The World Trade Center Scholarships are a group of scholarships administered by the New Jersey High Education Student Assistance Authority for students whose families were directly affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11^th, 2001.
• Amount: $5,000
• Requirements: Students must be a New Jersey resident, demonstrate impact of the World Trade Center terrorist attack, and plan to attend a four-year college or university. New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application
• How to Apply: https://www.hesaa.org/Documents/WTC_program.pdf

2. New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant

• Description: The New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant is available to all New Jersey students attending a New Jersey college or university. Administered by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, this grant supports students with financial need.
• Amount: Award varies
• Requirements: Students must be a legal resident of New Jersey attending a New Jersey educational institution. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to be considered for grant renewal.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the FAFSA and New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application by April 15^th. Students will be notified of their eligibility by their college or university. More information can be found on the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority website.

3. New Jersey Part Time Tuition Aid Grant

• Description: The New Jersey Part Time Tuition Aid Grant supports students who choose to enroll in six to eleven credit hours, below full-time student status.
• Requirements: Students must be residents of New Jersey attending a New Jersey educational institution with demonstrated unmet financial need. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress to be considered for grant renewal.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the FAFSA and New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application by April 15^th. Students will be notified of their eligibility by their college or university. More information can be found on the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority website.

4. Woodrow Wilson New Jersey Teaching Scholarship

• Description: Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships support new students and students returning to school in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field. Students must have attended a New Jersey high school and already attending or committed to attending a New Jersey four-year college or university.
• Amount: Award varies
• Requirements: Students must be a New Jersey resident attending or planning to attend eligible New Jersey institutions. Students must plan to enroll in at least six credits. Scholarship recipients must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress to be considered for renewal each year.
• How to Apply: Students complete the FAFSA and complete the application on the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship website.

5. Horatio Alger New Jersey Scholarship Fund

• Description: The Horatio Alger Scholarship Fund supports students with financial need attending a New Jersey educational institution. The program focuses on students who have overcome adversity and intend to become leaders in the community.
• Amount: $10,000
• Requirements: Students must be U.S. citizens and legal New Jersey residents. Students must be attending an eligible New Jersey institution. To be considered for scholarship renewal, students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the FAFSA as well as an online application, including a personal statement, additional financial documentation, and letters of recommendation by the October 25^th The application can be found on the Horatio Alger Fund website.

The Best New Jersey Field-Specific Scholarships

1. Meland Foundation Nursing Scholarship

• Description: The Meland Foundation Nursing Scholarship encourages New Jersey students to pursue a career in Nursing. The scholarship is available to those pursuing their bachelor’s in nursing or an advanced degree leading to a nurse practitioner certification.
• Amount: $2,000-$5,000
• Requirements: Students must be New Jersey residents and demonstrate enrollment in eligible New Jersey institution and be pursuing a degree related to nursing. Students must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress at their college or university.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the application including letters of recommendation, transcripts, and personal essays. Applications are accepted throughout the year. More information and application materials can be found on the Meland Foundation website.

2. Caroline Thorn Kissel Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship

• Description: The Garden Club of America administers the Caroline Thorn Kissel Summer Environmental Studies Scholarship to encourage New Jersey students to continue their studies over the summer as they relate to the environment.
• Amount: $3,000
• Requirements: Students must be legal residents of New Jersey attending a New Jersey educational institution and pursuing a degree related to environmental studies. Students must have demonstrated commitment to conservation.
• How to Apply: Submit the application package including personal statement and transcripts by the February 5^th Application materials and more information can be found on the Garden Club of America website.

3. New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants Scholarship

• Description: Funded by the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, this scholarship provides opportunity for New Jersey students to pursue a career in accounting, mitigating costs of tuition and Certified Public Accounting exams.
• Amount: $6,000
• Requirements: Students must be a legal resident of New Jersey and currently a junior or senior at a New Jersey college or university. Students must be pursuing an accounting degree and have achieved at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA.
• How to Apply: Submit the application package, including personal statement of interest in accounting, to the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants by the early January deadline. More information and application materials can be found on the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants website.

4. Builders League of South Jersey Scholarship

• Description: Awarded by the Builders League of South Jersey, this scholarship encourages students to pursue a career related to real estate or homebuilding. Students should be planning to attend a New Jersey college, university or technical institution.
• Amount: Award varies
• Requirements: Students must be a resident of New Jersey and have achieved at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA in high school. Students are encouraged to pursue a major that can be applied to homebuilding or real estate.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the online application by the March 1^st deadline, including personal essays, letters of recommendation, and transcripts. More information and application materials can be found on the Builders League of South Jersey website.

5. Horticultural Society of South Jersey Scholarship

• Description: Awarded to students pursuing a career related to horticulture, the Horticultural Society of South Jersey Scholarship program supports future environmentalists for all four years of undergraduate study. This program offers extra-curricular enrichment opportunities to award recipients.
• Amount: $500
• Requirements: Students must be a New Jersey resident attending a United States college or university and plan to pursue a degree related to horticulture or environmental science. Students must have achieved at least a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA.
• How to Apply: Students must complete the application including transcripts and personal essays by the May 1^st More information and application materials can be found on the Horticultural Society of South Jersey website.

You have read our comprehensive guide to the best scholarships in New Jersey, found one or two that are right for you, so now it’s time to apply! Wherever you attend school, there is a New Jersey college grant, maybe even a full tuition scholarship, for you. Whether you are applying for a state scholarship like the New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant, or aiming high for a scholarship for your academic achievement like the New Jersey Stars Scholarship, you can fund your education as a New Jersey student.

Scholarships can be competitive, but apply to a scholarship that is a perfect fit and you can work your way towards graduating debt-free.

Applying to schools in another state? Check out our other scholarship lists here.

Lastly, be sure to read our post on the top scholarship sites to use here.