Education (Higher Education) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2675: Establishes Volunteer Emergency Responder Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

This bill creates a program to help New Jersey volunteer emergency responders (like fire department members and first aid squad volunteers) reduce student loan debt. To qualify, applicants must be state residents, have completed an in-state undergraduate degree or certificate, and provide proof of active volunteer status. The program redeems up to $16,000 of eligible student loans over three years of continued service: $4,000 in year one, $4,000 in year two, and $8,000 in year three (capped at specified percentages of the original loan balance). Participants must maintain active volunteer status each year to receive payments.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3750: Establishes New Jersey County College Remissible Student Loan Program; appropriates $1 million.

This bill establishes a New Jersey County College Remissible Student Loan Program to help students cover tuition, fees, and textbooks not covered by other aid. It directly affects eligible New Jersey residents enrolled part-time at county colleges who have applied for all other available grants and scholarships. The key provision allows borrowers to receive loans that are fully forgiven if they earn an associate degree within three years, with $1 million appropriated to fund the program. Loans cannot exceed tuition/fees costs, and repayment is deferred until after degree completion, though interest accrues.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 2, 2026

S 3300: Provides that former law enforcement officers who retired due to disability are eligible to receive tuition assistance to attend public institution of higher education or proprietary institution licensed to confer academic degrees.

This bill provides tuition assistance to New Jersey law enforcement officers who retired due to disability after serving at least four years. Eligible retired officers can attend public colleges (like Rutgers) or licensed private degree programs tuition-free for up to 16 credits per semester, covering costs not covered by federal or state grants they’ve applied for. To qualify, officers must have retired in good standing under specific disability retirement statutes and be enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students. The state will reimburse institutions for uncovered tuition costs after other aid is exhausted. The bill models existing tuition benefits for National Guard members.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3669: Requires institutions of higher education to distribute information on availability of allowance for dependent care expenses in determination of cost of attendance.

This New Jersey bill (A 3669) requires colleges and universities to provide clear information about the dependent care allowance to students with dependents. Specifically, institutions must include details on how to request this federal allowance - covering expenses for caring for dependents - on financial aid "shopping sheets," their websites, and paper application materials. The allowance increases a student’s calculated cost of attendance, potentially making them eligible for more financial aid. The bill directly affects student parents and institutions of higher education in New Jersey, aiming to improve transparency around this benefit.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1136: Makes supplemental appropriation of $500,000 from General Fund to Rutgers University - New Brunswick for Nurture thru Nature program.

This bill appropriates $500,000 from the State General Fund to Rutgers University-New Brunswick specifically for its Nurture thru Nature (NtN) program. The NtN program provides STEM education and hands-on learning to students in grades 3-12, with a focus on addressing educational gaps in nearby inner-city school districts. The funding is a supplemental appropriation for the 2025 fiscal year to support this existing program's operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Higher Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 3316: Establishes employee protections for certain employees of New Jersey City University in event of merger with Kean University.

This bill protects faculty and professional staff at New Jersey City University (NJCU) who are part of recognized labor unions if NJCU merges with Kean University. It prohibits job loss, layoffs, involuntary reassignment, or reduced hours for these employees for three years after the merger. During this period, Kean University must first offer any vacant positions to transferred NJCU employees before hiring externally, and provide a two-year transition period for staff to meet new job requirements. The bill also ensures all existing union contracts, benefits, seniority, and retirement rights transfer fully to Kean University for three years.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Higher Education Collective Bargaining

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 3361: Applies provisions of "New Jersey College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act" to proprietary schools and limits eligibility for State student assistance programs to students enrolled in certain proprietary schools.

This bill requires proprietary schools (private, for-profit institutions) to provide the same detailed consumer information to students as traditional colleges under New Jersey's existing "College Student and Parent Consumer Information Act." Schools must post on their websites annual reports including graduation rates by demographic and major, full cost of attendance, faculty composition, and student loan debt data - disaggregated by factors like race, income, and first-generation status. It also restricts eligibility for state student financial aid programs to students enrolled in specific proprietary schools meeting certain criteria. The bill directly affects proprietary schools by mandating transparency and state aid recipients by limiting program access.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Feb 19, 2026

A 4418: "Education Investment Act"; establishes an equity financing for education program at certain public institutions of higher education.

The "Education Investment Act" (A4418) creates an income-contingent repayment program for students at selected New Jersey public colleges and universities. Students can defer tuition and related expenses until after graduation, then repay a fixed percentage of their income over a set period - without fixed interest rates - instead of traditional loans. Participating institutions, chosen by the Commission on Higher Education, set repayment terms (including income percentage, duration, and options for temporary deferment or cancellation) and may partner with third-party investors to cover initial costs in exchange for a share of future repayments. The program is available to all enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at participating institutions, though institutions may limit enrollment to manage program costs.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education

in committee · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 1431: Provides in-State tuition status to certain veterans and family members who attend public institutions of higher education during period of mandatory remote instruction due to public health emergencies.

This bill updates New Jersey's tuition policy to ensure veterans and eligible family members (spouses or children) who qualify for federal education benefits continue to pay in-state tuition rates during public health emergencies requiring remote learning. It applies when veterans or covered individuals live outside New Jersey temporarily while attending public colleges in New Jersey through remote instruction. The policy change extends the existing NJTEAM Act, which already provides in-state tuition to qualifying veterans residing in New Jersey, to cover temporary out-of-state stays during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. This directly affects veterans and their families using federal education benefits who face forced relocation due to health-related campus closures.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Higher Education Military Families Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

died · New Jersey · General Assembly Jan 13, 2026

A 2139: Provides for merger of New Jersey City University with Kean University; expands powers and property of Kean University.

This bill formally approves the merger of New Jersey City University (NJCU) with Kean University, requiring NJCU to cease operating as a separate institution and become an additional campus of Kean University. It directs Kean to assume NJCU's $150 million in long-term debt and $43 million in affiliated debt, addressing NJCU's $22 million structural deficit that triggered a state fiscal emergency. The merger, agreed upon in October 2025, aims to preserve NJCU's mission while expanding Kean's capacity to serve students in Hudson County and beyond. The bill was withdrawn after being enacted as P.L.2025, c.218.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education

All education bills