Education (Student Financial Aid) in New Jersey

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 776: Requires school districts to provide information on free application for federal student aid to students in grades 11 and 12.

This bill requires New Jersey school districts to provide information about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to students in grades 11 and 12 as part of career readiness education. It mandates schools to encourage students and their parents or guardians to complete the FAFSA application. The Commissioner of Education must also publish a resource list with step-by-step instructions for completing the FAFSA, in collaboration with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. The law takes effect in the first full school year after enactment.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Feb 5, 2026

S 2194: Establishes pilot program providing tuition fee waiver for certain apprenticeship courses.*

This bill would provide tuition waivers for classroom courses within registered apprenticeship programs at New Jersey public colleges and vocational schools. It applies to individuals with household income below the state median (as defined by U.S. Census data), who have exhausted all other financial aid and maintain active apprenticeship employment. The state would reimburse institutions for waived tuition costs, covering only the classroom training portion of approved apprenticeships. Eligibility requires completing a FAFSA annually and meeting academic progress standards.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Apprenticeships

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 2424: Prohibits public institution of higher education from charging tuition to student who is dependent child of veteran who died or is disabled as result of service-related injury.

S 2424 provides tuition-free education at New Jersey public colleges for dependent children of veterans who died or are totally disabled due to service-related injuries, as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It covers up to 60 credit hours for associate degrees and 120 credit hours for bachelor's degrees, subject to residency requirements, academic progress standards, and proof that the student has applied for all available federal and state financial aid. The bill requires students to have no other federal tuition benefits covering the same cost and to apply for VA benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The state will reimburse public colleges for waived tuition costs.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Veteran Education

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1360: Establishes gross income tax credit and corporation business tax credit for student loan payments.

This New Jersey bill (S 1360) creates tax credits for residents and employers who pay student loans used for higher education expenses. Qualified taxpayers (New Jersey residents with associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degrees in STEM fields who worked in the state) can claim a credit against their state income tax equal to a portion of their student loan payments, based on a federal benchmark. Employers can also claim a credit for paying employees’ eligible student loans (100% for full-time, 50% for part-time), with unused credits carried forward up to seven years. The bill specifically targets STEM graduates and aims to reduce student debt burden through state tax incentives.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits Student Financial Aid

signed · New Jersey · Senate Jun 30, 2026

S 229: Requires institutions of higher education to collect and report employment data for certain graduates.

New Jersey's S 229 requires colleges and universities to collect and publicly report detailed employment outcomes and earnings data for recent graduates, along with other key metrics like graduation rates, costs, and financial aid. Institutions must post annual, disaggregated data (by race, gender, income, and other factors) on their websites, including employment rates, average student debt, and cost projections for different student scenarios. This transparency aims to help prospective students and families compare institutions based on concrete outcomes rather than general information. The law applies to all higher education institutions in New Jersey, with reports due annually and linked directly from application pages. The Secretary of Higher Education will also compile comparative profiles to help students easily evaluate institutions.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 584: Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to provide certain students with information and assistance regarding federal financial aid application.

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey to help 12th-grade students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Participating school districts must provide students with instruction on FAFSA requirements, including necessary documentation, key terms (like "dependent" or "household size"), eligibility rules, and deadlines - delivered through classroom sessions, counselors, or family workshops. Schools must also share FAFSA information with parents/guardians via written or electronic means and provide paper FAFSA forms upon request. The program selects 12 school districts (four per geographic region) to test the approach, with a final report due to the Governor and Legislature assessing whether to expand it statewide.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1454: Requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to permit certain students to submit monthly expense and resource statement for income verification; requires Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to impute in-kind support amounts.

This bill (S 1454) requires New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to allow students applying for state grants or scholarships to submit a monthly expense and resource statement instead of traditional income verification documents (like tax returns) when their income/assets cannot be confirmed through government records. It specifically mandates HESAA to estimate a minimal standard of living (e.g., housing, food costs) as "in-kind support" if a student reports zero income. This change directly affects students from low-income households or those without verifiable financial documentation, ensuring they are not automatically denied aid. The policy applies to all New Jersey state student aid programs and takes effect for the first full academic year after enactment.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1945: Establishes Volunteer Emergency Responder Loan Redemption Program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

This bill establishes the Volunteer Emergency Responder Loan Redemption Program, which provides student loan forgiveness for New Jersey residents who serve as volunteer emergency responders. To qualify, participants must have completed an in-state undergraduate degree or certificate program, be active members of volunteer fire, ambulance, or emergency management teams, and provide documentation of their service. The program redeems up to $16,000 of eligible student loans over three years of service: $4,000 in the first year, $4,000 in the second year, and $8,000 in the third year (capped at 25%, 25%, and 50% of the original loan balance, respectively). Participants must maintain active volunteer status each year to receive benefits, and the program applies to loans used for in-state higher education costs.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 823: Prohibits institution of higher education from establishing scholarship fund or student assistance program limited to students who are citizens or permanent residents of country or territory controlled by terrorist organization.

This bill prohibits New Jersey colleges and universities from creating scholarships or financial aid programs exclusively for students who are citizens or permanent residents of countries or territories designated by the U.S. State Department as controlled by terrorist organizations. It directly affects all public and private higher education institutions in New Jersey that receive state funding. Violations would result in the institution losing access to state operating funds, education facility bonds, general obligation bonds, and state scholarship programs distributed through the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1467: Expands Tuition Aid Grant program to include workforce training programs.

This bill expands New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant Program to include eligible workforce training programs alongside traditional degree-granting institutions. It requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to designate programs meeting specific criteria: minimum 150 hours of classroom instruction, offering industry-valued credentials, and maintaining at least 70% completion and job placement rates. The change directly affects students in non-degree workforce training programs and the institutions offering them, allowing these programs to access state tuition aid. The authority will determine eligibility based on these standards, while maintaining existing requirements for degree programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid Workforce Development

All education bills