New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)
The Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) is one of New Jersey’s main state grants and covers part of tuition for undergraduates with financial need at approved two- or four-year public, private, and certain degree-granting proprietary colleges. It is not limited to community colleges and is distinct from CCOG and Garden State Guarantee, which serve different groups. Aid is not a guaranteed flat amount: it varies with need, institution type, tuition, available funds, and file verification.
About New Jersey Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)
The Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) is one of New Jersey’s main state grants and covers part of tuition for undergraduates with financial need at approved two- or four-year public, private, and certain degree-granting proprietary colleges. It is not limited to community colleges and is distinct from CCOG and Garden State Guarantee, which serve different groups. Aid is not a guaranteed flat amount: it varies with need, institution type, tuition, available funds, and file verification.
The general rule requires 12 months of New Jersey residency, while students who qualify under the NJ Dream Act may use the alternative application. Applicants must enroll full time as undergraduates in an eligible program, file FAFSA or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application, and meet progress and state-debt/refund rules. Some county-college students taking six to eleven credits may qualify for Part-Time TAG. FAFSA must be renewed annually; NJFAMS may then request documents or corrections.
For fall and spring 2026–27, the filing date for new applicants and students who did not receive TAG was September 15, 2026, which has passed as of this review; spring-only applicants have until February 15, 2027. Students must also complete their NJFAMS state record by October 1 or within 30 days of a notification; incomplete documents do not extend deadlines. Create or access NJFAMS, check the “To Do List,” and ask HESAA about a spring-only application if you missed the first date.
Who it serves and what it can cover: The Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) is one of New Jersey’s main state grants and covers part of tuition for undergraduates with financial need at approved two- or four-year public, private, and certain degree-granting proprietary colleges. It is not limited to community colleges and is distinct from CCOG and Garden State Guarantee, which serve different groups. Aid is not a guaranteed flat amount: it varies with need, institution type, tuition, available funds, and file verification. The general rule requires 12 months of New Jersey residency, while students who qualify under the NJ Dream Act may use the alternative application. Applicants must enroll full time as undergraduates in an eligible program, file FAFSA or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application, and meet progress and state-debt/refund rules. Some county-college students taking six to eleven credits may qualify for Part-Time TAG. FAFSA must be renewed annually; NJFAMS may then request documents or corrections.
How to apply or get help: For fall and spring 2026–27, the filing date for new applicants and students who did not receive TAG was September 15, 2026, which has passed as of this review; spring-only applicants have until February 15, 2027. Students must also complete their NJFAMS state record by October 1 or within 30 days of a notification; incomplete documents do not extend deadlines. Create or access NJFAMS, check the “To Do List,” and ask HESAA about a spring-only application if you missed the first date. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
College financial-aid program