NJ Continues ‘Free College’ Program, Makes It Easier To Qualify

New Jersey’s “tuition-free college” program is heading into its second year, and it’s now easier to qualify.

On Thursday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that students who want to participate in the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) have until Sept. 15 to complete the necessary paperwork.

The program provides “last dollar” scholarships for students at any of the state’s 18 county colleges who have exhausted all other grants and financial aid. Students are reimbursed for their remaining tuition fees.

Students must be enrolled in at least six credits for the fall 2019 and/or spring 2020 semesters. To receive free tuition through CCOG, all students must meet the Sept. 15 deadline to complete either FAFSA or the Alternative Application for New Jersey DREAMers and respond to all financial aid questions from HESAA or the college they are attending. Students who have already completed a financial aid application for academic year 2019-2020 will be considered automatically for CCOG eligibility.

Anyone with an adjusted gross income up to $65,000 is now eligible. Last year, only people with incomes of $45,000 or less could participate.

Learn more about the CCOG program and see if you qualify.

The free tuition program has been a big success at several county colleges, school administrators have reported.

At Essex County College, which has campuses in Newark and West Caldwell, more than seven out of 10 students qualify for federal financial aid. In June, school administrators said about 300 students have received a financial boost from the CCOG program.

"Now I can take the last two classes this summer I need to graduate and then transfer to Rutgers University-Newark," one student said. "If this wonderful assistance hadn't come along, I'd probably be working this summer and try to pay my tuition… if I could."

• See related article: NJ's 'Free Tuition' Program Is A Big Hit At Essex County College
• See related article: Will New Jersey’s 'Free College' Program Continue?

At Middlesex County College, 300 students took advantage of the CCOG program during the spring 2019 semester. Many would not have been able to attend school if not for the grants, President Mark McCormick said.

“I believe that CCOG is an investment in our students as they earn an associate degree or industry credential that leads to a career with family-supporting wages,” McCormick said.

Gov. Murphy said everyone deserves an opportunity to pursue their scholastic dreams—whether they’re a recent high school graduate or an older student changing their career.

“Our community colleges play a critical role in helping our students build the skill sets they need to meet the demands of a growing and diverse 21st-century economy,” Murphy said.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, who represents the state’s 19th District, also had high praise for the CCOG program.

“New Jersey has some of the premier institutions of higher education in the country,” Coughlin said. “We are preparing future generations to compete in an ever evolving workforce and achieve their career goals. Helping families and students decrease the potential for student debt after college is a priority.”

Funds for the program were approved in the state’s Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations Act.

• See related article: Student Loan Debt Is Rising In New Jersey, Study Says

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