NJ STARS II is the second stage of New Jersey’s NJ STARS pathway for students who complete an associate degree at a county college and continue toward a bachelor’s at a participating in-state institution. It is not a scholarship one can apply for without completing the first stage or a general transfer award.
The fact sheet for transfers beginning Fall 2026 requires prior NJ STARS participation, an associate degree from the county college with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25, and transfer directly to an eligible four-year college or university. HESAA lists up to $2,500 per year for as many as four semesters, subject to tuition cost and other scholarships. Keep transcripts and confirm credit equivalency with the receiving institution in writing.
The state application relies on FAFSA or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application and NJFAMS, plus college certification. A student may meet academic criteria but receive less than the maximum if Pell, TAG, or other aid already covers tuition; ask whether the award is residual and which charges are excluded. The state requires satisfactory progress and may limit paid terms.
The September 15, 2026 date for fall non-renewal applicants has passed; the Spring 2027 date for students starting only then is February 15, 2027. Renewals follow a different calendar. Create or review NJFAMS, confirm the college code, and ask the campus to send certification. If you transferred late, ask about options, but do not count on retroactive funding.
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.
NJ STARS II — New Jersey HESAA.
NJ STARS II Fact Sheet: Transfer Students Beginning Fall 2026 — New Jersey HESAA.
State Application Deadlines — 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.
NJ STARS II is for former participants who complete an associate degree; verify GPA, college, and Spring 2027 filing date.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
NJ STARS II
Up to $2,500 per year for up to four semesters, subject to eligibility, cost, and other aid.
State scholarship for transfer from community college to a bachelor’s program
New Jersey HESAA NJFAMS Office
Centralizes FAFSA status, scholarship eligibility, missing documents, and state aid records.
HESAA public aid and student-record portal
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
-
Official website ↗
Primary source
New Jersey HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website ↗
Primary source
New Jersey HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website ↗
Primary source
New Jersey HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website of NJ STARS II ↗
Primary source
HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
-
Official website of New Jersey HESAA NJFAMS Office ↗
Primary source
HESAA · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.