This bill requires New Jersey's four-year public universities to admit students diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell anemia before age 24, provided they are New Jersey residents for at least one year. Institutions must prioritize these students for admission, financial aid, and on-campus housing, though they may deny admission for compelling reasons reviewed by the Higher Education Secretary. Universities must annually report enrollment data to the Secretary, who then shares totals with the Governor and Legislature. The law does not alter admission standards for specialized programs. It takes effect immediately for the next academic year following enactment.
This New Jersey bill (A 2098) prohibits institutions of higher education and certain proprietary schools from withholding student transcripts due to unpaid debts of $2,000 or less for non-mandatory charges (like campus fees, not tuition or room/board). It specifically bans institutions from refusing transcripts, charging extra fees, or conditioning transcript access on debt payment for qualifying students. Exceptions apply for unpaid tuition/room/board debts, debts exceeding $2,000, or students needing transcripts for new student loans. The bill also requires institutions to post transcript policies online and clarifies that transcript access does not forgive debt or affect diploma issuance. Note: This bill was withdrawn as it was already enacted as P.L.2025, c.353.
This bill (A 1772) provides free undergraduate tuition and mandatory student fees at New Jersey public colleges for dependents of qualifying veterans. It directly affects children (ages 17-26), spouses, civil union partners, or domestic partners of veterans who were New Jersey residents when entering active duty and who were killed in action, declared POW/MIA, permanently and totally disabled (100% service-connected), or died from a service-connected disability. To qualify, dependents must be New Jersey residents, enrolled full-time in good standing at a public institution, and have applied for all available state and federal grants/scholarships. Benefits are capped at the credit hours needed for a bachelor’s degree (at four-year colleges) or associate degree (at community colleges), and spouse/partner benefits expire after 10 years or upon remarriage.
This New Jersey bill requires the Department of Education to study student caregivers in high schools. The study will examine challenges faced by students caring for family members at home, absenteeism rates among these students, and how caregiving impacts graduation rates and college enrollment. Within one year, the Education Commissioner must submit a report with findings and any recommendations for potential support programs. The bill directly affects high school students in public and nonpublic schools who serve as primary caregivers.
This bill establishes the New Jersey School Counts County College Scholarship Program, providing up to $4,000 in tuition, book, and fee assistance to eligible high school graduates attending county colleges. To qualify, students must earn a School Counts certificate by maintaining 95% attendance, achieving a C average or higher, completing Algebra I, and meeting graduation requirements during high school. The scholarship covers costs after other financial aid is applied, requires full-time enrollment (24+ credits annually), and must be used within six months of high school graduation. County colleges can receive state matching funds if they raise private donations to support student scholarships.
This bill creates a two-year scholarship program for undergraduate students at New Jersey public colleges who commit to community service in climate action, K-12 education, or food insecurity. Students receiving $10,000 scholarships must serve 15 hours weekly in these fields for one academic year and agree to work full-time in related careers after graduation. The bill appropriates $9 million for 900 scholarships ($10,000 each) and $1 million to fund $100,000 grants for 10 public colleges to establish community partnerships supporting these service opportunities. It requires institutions to develop programs offering academic credit, professional development, and connections to community organizations in the targeted fields.
This bill establishes a 12-member Commission on Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education to examine and improve financial transparency, accountability, and oversight of New Jersey's public colleges and universities. The commission includes officials, college presidents, labor union representatives, faculty, and student representatives appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders. It will study tuition transparency, student outcomes, and institutional performance, then issue a report to the Governor and Legislature within 180 days of organizing. The commission's work expires 30 days after the report is submitted.
This bill expands New Jersey's NJ STARS scholarship program to include students who receive equivalent instruction outside traditional schools (such as homeschoolers). It allows these students to qualify for the first year of scholarship funding if they meet academic achievement criteria set by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, similar to requirements for traditionally schooled students. The policy change specifically updates eligibility rules in Section 5(b) of the NJ STARS statute to include this group. For subsequent years, scholarship renewal would still require maintaining a 3.0 GPA, as currently required for all recipients. This change applies to students beginning college enrollment in the 2018-2019 academic year or later.
This bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to award academic credit to undergraduate students who volunteer as emergency responders. To qualify, students must have served within five years of enrollment (or concurrently), provided proof of hours, volunteered with an officially recognized fire/rescue/ambulance group or emergency management office, and held the required certification during service. Credit is calculated based on verified hours and applied toward relevant coursework. The Secretary of Higher Education must develop standardized credit recommendations for institutions. The law takes effect immediately for the next full academic year after enactment.
This bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to create guidelines for colleges and universities based on 10 best practices identified in a 2022 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. It directly affects all New Jersey institutions of higher education and proprietary schools offering degrees by mandating they clearly show: total and net costs of attendance, direct vs. indirect expenses, standardized terms for aid, student rights to accept/decline offers, contact information for aid assistance, and banning the term "award" in offers. The guidelines must align with federal "College Financing Plan" standards and avoid duplicating federal requirements. The goal is to improve transparency in financial aid offers, addressing findings that most institutions currently omit key cost details like net price or total attendance costs.
