How much is the New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant?

For 2026-27, the maximum full-time TAG is $14,404 at independent (private) colleges, $10,964 at public research universities, $9,496 at state colleges and universities and $3,098 at county colleges, per HESAA's award table. The amount depends on your New Jersey Eligibility Index, calculated from your FAFSA, and the college's tuition.

What is the New Jersey financial aid deadline for 2027-28?

Sept. 15, 2027 for high school seniors, first-time college students and students who didn't receive TAG in 2026-27; April 15, 2027 for students renewing TAG. Students who miss those can still apply for spring 2028 only by Feb. 15, 2028. You file the FAFSA (or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application) and then complete any tasks in your NJFAMS account.

Is community college free in New Jersey?

For many students, yes. The Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) covers remaining tuition and approved fees at New Jersey community colleges for residents with adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less who enroll in at least six credits. Separately, NJ STARS covers tuition at your home county college if you're in the top 15% of your high school class.

New Jersey Financial Aid: TAG (Up to $14,404), Free Community College, the Garden State Guarantee, and the Sept. 15 Deadline

New Jersey financial aid is unusually generous. The state's Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) pays up to $14,404 a year at private colleges and $10,964 at Rutgers and other public research universities for 2026-27. If your family earns $65,000 or less, community college is tuition-free (the Community College Opportunity Grant), and so are your third and fourth years at a public four-year college (the Garden State Guarantee). For high school seniors, the FAFSA deadline is Sept. 15, 2027.

The details below are from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), which runs New Jersey's state aid, and Rutgers' own pages.

New Jersey's state aid programs

Program	Who	What it pays
Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)	Need-based, any eligible New Jersey college	Up to $14,404 (private), $10,964 (public research), $9,496 (state colleges), $3,098 (county colleges) in 2026-27
Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG)	AGI $65,000 or less, at least 6 credits	Remaining tuition and approved fees at a New Jersey community college
Garden State Guarantee (GSG)	AGI $65,000 or less, full time	$0 tuition and fees in years 3 and 4 at a public four-year college
NJ STARS	Top 15% of your high school class	Tuition at your home county college, up to five semesters

Sources: HESAA, Tuition Aid Grant Award Table 2026-27 and program pages.

See TAG amounts and deadlines and New Jersey's free college programs.

The deadline that catches students

For 2027-28, HESAA sets two deadlines for the full year:

April 15, 2027: students who received TAG in 2026-27 and are renewing.
Sept. 15, 2027: high school seniors, first-time college students and anyone who didn't get TAG in 2026-27.

Miss them, and you can still apply for spring 2028 only by Feb. 15, 2028. After filing the FAFSA (or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application for NJ Dreamers), you must also finish any tasks in your NJFAMS account; HESAA says deadlines "are not extended for incomplete or partial information."

How Rutgers fits

Rutgers-New Brunswick's Scarlet Guarantee covers remaining tuition and eligible fees in years 1 and 2 for New Jersey students with family AGI of $65,000 or less (for students enrolling fall 2026 or later). Combined with the state's Garden State Guarantee for years 3 and 4, that means four years of tuition-free study for qualifying families. See Rutgers admissions for New Jersey residents.

What this means for you

File the 2027-28 FAFSA now, well before Sept. 15, 2027, and check NJFAMS for tasks.
Under $65,000 in family income? Community college, and years 3-4 at a public university, can be tuition-free.
In the top 15% of your class? NJ STARS covers tuition at your county college.
Compare TAG by sector: it pays the most at private colleges, where tuition is highest.