New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (NJ STARS II)
NJ STARS II supports the transition from a New Jersey county college to a participating four-year institution. It is for NJ STARS recipients or recognized non-funded scholars who complete an associate degree and continue toward a bachelor’s at an eligible campus. The fall 2026 transfer fact sheet lists up to $2,500 per academic year for a maximum of four semesters; payment is calculated after other state and federal aid and applies to tuition, with different rules for TAG rec
About New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (NJ STARS II)
NJ STARS II supports the transition from a New Jersey county college to a participating four-year institution. It is for NJ STARS recipients or recognized non-funded scholars who complete an associate degree and continue toward a bachelor’s at an eligible campus. The fall 2026 transfer fact sheet lists up to $2,500 per academic year for a maximum of four semesters; payment is calculated after other state and federal aid and applies to tuition, with different rules for TAG recipients.
To qualify, students must have participated in NJ STARS during their county-college graduation semester, finish the associate degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25, and meet the published financial and admission conditions. The fact sheet sets a $250,000 family-income ceiling and full-time enrollment at a four-year institution participating in the Tuition Aid Grant program. Because the fall 2026 materials list different dates for renewal and non-renewal applicants, use the row that matches your status and transfer term.
This is not a stand-alone application that replaces admission: the receiving college determines eligibility, and students file FAFSA or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application each year, complete their NJFAMS record, and submit a final transcript. The amount can change when combined with Pell, TAG, and other scholarships. Before accepting, request a written net-tuition estimate and confirm whether summer study, fewer credits, or a break affects the four possible semesters.
Who it serves and what it can cover: NJ STARS II supports the transition from a New Jersey county college to a participating four-year institution. It is for NJ STARS recipients or recognized non-funded scholars who complete an associate degree and continue toward a bachelor’s at an eligible campus. The fall 2026 transfer fact sheet lists up to $2,500 per academic year for a maximum of four semesters; payment is calculated after other state and federal aid and applies to tuition, with different rules for TAG recipients. To qualify, students must have participated in NJ STARS during their county-college graduation semester, finish the associate degree with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25, and meet the published financial and admission conditions. The fact sheet sets a $250,000 family-income ceiling and full-time enrollment at a four-year institution participating in the Tuition Aid Grant program. Because the fall 2026 materials list different dates for renewal and non-renewal applicants, use the row that matches your status and transfer term.
How to apply or get help: This is not a stand-alone application that replaces admission: the receiving college determines eligibility, and students file FAFSA or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application each year, complete their NJFAMS record, and submit a final transcript. The amount can change when combined with Pell, TAG, and other scholarships. Before accepting, request a written net-tuition estimate and confirm whether summer study, fewer credits, or a break affects the four possible semesters. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
College scholarship and financial-aid program