Free college in New Jersey is real for many families, but it comes from several programs that each cover a different stretch. If your family's adjusted gross income (AGI) is $65,000 or less, the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) covers community college tuition, and the Garden State Guarantee (GSG) covers years 3 and 4 at a public four-year college. At Rutgers-New Brunswick, the Scarlet Guarantee covers years 1 and 2 at the same limit. Separately, NJ STARS pays county college tuition for the top 15% of each high school class, with no income test.
The rules below are from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) and Rutgers-New Brunswick.
Four programs at a glance
| Program | Income limit | Where | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community College Opportunity Grant | AGI $65,000 or less | Any New Jersey community college | Remaining in-county tuition (up to 18 credits) and approved fees; at least 6 credits |
| Garden State Guarantee | AGI $65,000 or less | Public four-year colleges, years 3-4 | $0 net tuition and fees; full time; up to 4 semesters or 128 credits |
| Scarlet Guarantee | AGI $65,000 or less | Rutgers-New Brunswick, years 1-2 | Remaining in-state tuition and eligible fees; full time; 4 semesters |
| NJ STARS | None | Your home county college | Tuition only, up to 5 semesters, for the top 15% of your class |
Sources: HESAA (CCOG, Garden State Guarantee, NJ STARS 2026 fact sheet); Rutgers-New Brunswick (Scarlet Guarantee).
All four are last-dollar programs: they pay what's left after federal and state grants. Housing, food and books aren't covered.
Garden State Guarantee: years 3 and 4
Students in their third year (60-89 credits) or fourth year (90-128 credits) at a New Jersey public four-year college pay $0 for tuition and fees if their family AGI is $65,000 or less. Credits from AP, dual enrollment and transfer count toward your year. Participating colleges: Kean, Montclair State, New Jersey City University, NJIT, Ramapo, Rowan, Rutgers (Camden, New Brunswick, Newark), Stockton, The College of New Jersey, Thomas Edison State and William Paterson.
It's not for years 1 and 2 and not for part-time students. Families with negative AGI aren't eligible.
Community College Opportunity Grant
New Jersey residents with AGI of $65,000 or less can earn a first associate degree tuition-free. CCOG covers in-county tuition and approved fees; if you attend a community college outside your home county, the extra out-of-county charges aren't covered. You need at least six credits a semester and satisfactory academic progress.
Scarlet Guarantee at Rutgers-New Brunswick
For New Jersey students enrolling in fall 2026 or later, the Scarlet Guarantee covers remaining in-state tuition and eligible fees in years 1 and 2 (0-59.5 credits) with family AGI of $65,000 or less. You must be full time and file the FAFSA or NJ Alternative application by the state deadline. With the Garden State Guarantee for years 3 and 4, that's four tuition-free years for qualifying families.
NJ STARS: top 15%, no income test
If you're in the top 15.0% of your class at the end of junior or senior year, NJ STARS covers tuition only at your home county college for up to five semesters, after other grants. HESAA applies a hard cutoff with no rounding. You must enroll full time (at least 12 college-level credits) by the fifth semester after graduation, and keep a 3.0 GPA by the start of your third semester to renew.
What this means for you
- File the 2027-28 FAFSA by Sept. 15, 2027 (or the NJ Alternative application). Every program above depends on it.
- Under $65,000? Community college, years 1-2 at Rutgers-New Brunswick and years 3-4 at any public four-year college can be tuition-free.
- Top 15%? NJ STARS pays county college tuition regardless of income.
- Budget for housing and books. None of these cover them.