NJ STARS FAQ

NJ Stars

Almost 900 high school seniors in Atlantic and Cape May counties are eligible for the NJ STARS program, providing them with FREE tuition at Atlantic Cape Community College! Are you one of them?

Who is Eligible?

Students who have graduated from N.J. high schools in the top 20% of their class since 2004 are eligible for NJ STARS.

How Does it Work?

First year: Students must be in the top 20% of their high school class and must apply for all other forms of state and federal financial aid, not including student loans.
Second year: Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at the county college and file a financial aid renewal application. Funding is available for up to five continuous semesters, excluding summer, for eligible students.

What are the Scholarship Guidelines?

The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) is the governing agency and will determine guidelines for state residency, refund and repayment.
Atlantic and Cape May county students must attend ACCC unless their chosen degree program is not offered by the college. The student may attend another county college within New Jersey and will still be eligible for NJ STARS.
Students must enroll full time for a minimum of 12 credits, not including any remedial, developmental or English as a Second Language courses, up to a maximum of 15 credits per semester in a degree-seeking program.
The Scholarship covers the tuition and fees for two years or up to five consecutive semesters, including any semesters for which they are eligible but do not receive a NJ STARS award. Summer enrollment is not covered by NJ STARS.
If the student does not enroll for a semester, they are no longer eligible for NJ STARS unless they have a documented medical leave or a family emergency and are approved by the college to stop attending.
Students have two calendar years from their high school graduation date to apply for NJ STARS if they have not attended another institution of higher education.
The Scholarship, along with other financial assistance, must not exceed the cost of the tuition and fees.

What does the Scholarship Cover?

General fees.
Student Service/Activity fees.
Technology fees.
Required Course fees and equipment.

What costs are not covered?

Late fees.
Testing and License fees.
Out of county fees.
Health insurance (unless covered by private policy).

What if I’ve attended a four-year college or university and want to transfer to ACCC?

You can use NJ STARS for up to two years after your high school graduation if you have not attended a four-year college or university.
The five consecutive semesters will begin with your first declared semester at ACCC.
If you attend a four-year college for one semester immediately after you graduate from high school, you can begin using NJ STARS at ACCC the following semester.

Can I take summer classes through NJ STARS?

Tuition and fees for summer classes is not covered by NJ STARS. You may register and pay for summer classes without that semester counting toward your five consecutive semesters. If you choose not to attend during the summer, it will not be considered a break in enrollment and will not affect your eligibility for the program.

How do I enroll at ACCC?

Apply for admission by mail, in person or online at http://www.atlantic.edu/web4students/
Pay the $35.00 application fee.
Take the college Placement Test, unless you have SAT scores of 530 or higher in Mathematics, 540 or higher in English.
Once test scores are available, contact the NJ STARS counselor, Hal Lugerner, in Mays Landing at (609)343-5627 or (609)463-4774, ext. 5627 or in Cape May County, (609)463-6823 to make an appointment to select your courses.

Complete information on Admission to ACCC is available at www.atlantic.edu/admission

Why should I choose ACCC?

Save between $20,000 - $80,000 on the cost of a four-year degree.
High quality programs with small class sizes offer personalized instruction.
Choose from more than 40 programs of study, with 11 available completely online.
Transfer agreements smooth the transfer to a four-year college or university.
Convenient locations in Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May Court House.
Morning, afternoon or evening classes.

How can I learn more about NJ STARS?

For more information on NJ STARS, contact Linda McLeod at (609)343-5009, (609)463-4774, ext. 5009.

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