The Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship (NJ-GIVS) seeks to expand access for women and students of color to construction-related trades and credentials in New Jersey. Aid is limited to approved schools and programs; a course title mentioning construction is not enough. The institutional list and enrollment certification are essential parts of the application.
HESAA’s page lists at least 12 months of New Jersey residency, household income under the published $60,000 limit, and enrollment in an eligible construction program at a county college, vocational school, or approved proprietary institution. It targets women and students of color. Awards may reach $2,000 per academic year for up to two years after other funding is applied; the maximum depends on costs and funding and is not guaranteed.
File FAFSA if eligible; students who cannot use it may need the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application. A separate NJ-GIVS application and NJFAMS record are also required. Confirm the sequence with HESAA: FAFSA alone does not guarantee the scholarship or make a technical program eligible. Keep proof of residence, income, and admission.
HESAA lists December 1 for fall applicants and June 1 for spring; verify which date applies to your term and whether awards follow complete-file order. Before beginning, ask the school for tuition, fees, tools, and equipment costs. Do not budget the scholarship for tools or living expenses unless program rules say they qualify; the award determines covered charges.
Do not compare programs by the phrase “free tuition” alone. Ask the college for a written budget separating tuition, mandatory fees, books, transportation, housing, and meals, and ask which other grants are deducted before this award is calculated. A last-dollar scholarship may cover only eligible charges left after Pell and institutional aid.
Keep confirmation for every application and check your student portal: FAFSA/CADAA, residency verification, a transcript, education plan, or data-release consent may still be missing. If the current cycle deadline has passed, ask whether an appeal or late list exists, but prepare for the next cycle without assuming late documents will be accepted. Use the linked profiles to identify the administrator and official channel.
Aid can affect other awards and renewals. Before dropping credits, changing campuses, taking a break, or accepting a loan, ask in writing how your award would be recalculated and what academic progress is required. A published maximum is not an individual offer: the final amount depends on funding, eligible charges, other aid, and your file.
Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship (NJ-GIVS) — New Jersey HESAA.
NJ Grants and Scholarships — New Jersey HESAA.
NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application — New Jersey HESAA.
Information checked on October 12, 2026 against official sources. Past deadlines are identified as such; eligibility does not guarantee an award. Before enrolling, confirm the current cycle, available funding, and covered charges with the program and your college financial-aid office.
Verify the approved school and file both applications; the $2,000 maximum is subject to costs and funding.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
NJ-GIVS
Up to $2,000 annually for two years, subject to income, residency, program, and funding limits.
State scholarship for construction-related vocational training
New Jersey HESAA Grants and Scholarships
Maintains forms, deadlines, and program lists for state aid.
State financial-aid authority for career and college pathways
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
New Jersey HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
New Jersey HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
New Jersey HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of NJ-GIVS ↗
Primary source
HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of New Jersey HESAA Grants and Scholarships ↗
Primary source
HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.