NJ STARS (New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship)

NJ STARS rewards New Jersey's highest-ranked high school students with tuition support at their home county college. Students who rank in the top 15.0 percent of their class at the end of junior or senior year, complete a rigorous course of study, and have lived in New Jersey for at least 12 months before graduation can qualify. The award covers tuition only, after state and federal grants are applied, for up to five semesters and up to 18 college-level credits per semester. It does not cover fees, books or remedial courses, and some colleges fold fees into tuition rates, which can leave a balance. Students must enroll full time, taking at least 12 college-level credits, no later than the fifth semester after graduation, and generally at the county college where they live. To stay in the program, students need a 3.0 cumulative GPA by the start of the third semester and continuous full-time enrollment, with limited exceptions. The value depends on annual state funding.