Federal Pell Grant - This is a need-based award available only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. Pell grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which other aid may be added. If your expected family contribution (EFC) is below a certain amount, you’ll be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, ranging from $ 400 to $4,310 based upon your financial need as determined by the information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your Federal Pell Grant award will be prorated if you enroll for less than 12 credits each semester.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) - This award, ranging from $ 200 to $4,000, is granted by the financial aid office to Pell eligible students with exceptional need. Priority is given to students with an estimated family contribution (EFC) of zero who complete the financial aid application before August 1 for the Fall semester and January 1 for the Spring semester. SEOG does not have to be repaid. Students may be full-time or part-time and receive Pell and/or SEOG.

Federal Work-Study Program (FWS) - This program provides on-campus employment for students who are financially needy and express an interest in working by completing and submitting an application to the Financial Aid Office. Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office. To be eligible for FWS, the applicant must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States. Students are allowed 15 hours a week while classes are in session and up to 30 hours per week when classes are not in session. Students must complete a work-study application to receive funds awarded through the Federal Work-Study Program. Students must also register at least half-time and have a 2.0 GPA to be eligible for these funds at ECC.

Sallie Mae Signature Student Loan - The Sallie Mae Signature Student Loan is the most popular after-Stafford loan, with a six-month grace period (like Stafford loans). No payments are required while you are in school at least half-time. Interest rates are variable and based on the Prime rate. Standard repayment term is 15 years, with the option to extend terms (up to 30 years) for higher aggregate loan balances. You can prepay your loan at any time without penalty. If you have less-than-ideal credit or no credit at all, you can still be eligible for the Signature Student Loan by applying with a creditworthy cosigner.  The Sallie Mae Signature Student Loan features the convenience of allowing you to manage your account online 24/7. Community College students can apply for a Signature Student Loan quickly and easily through OpenNet®, Sallie Mae’s online loan delivery system.

• You must attend a community college at least half time and be working toward your degree.
• You must meet credit criteria.
• Borrowers must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• International students are eligible with a creditworthy cosigner.

For more information, visit SallieMae.com/CommunityCollegeLoan

State Sources

Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) - At ECC, grants ranging from $ 988 to $2,186 per academic year are available to New Jersey residents seeking their first degrees as a full-time undergraduate student at an approved New Jersey college or university. The grant awards are based upon student need and the availability of funds. Applicants must demonstrate need for aid and must have been legal residents of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months before receiving the grant. Students who already have a baccalaureate degree or an associate degree are not eligible.

Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) - A New Jersey grant program for students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds with demonstrated financial need. The maximum grant at ECC is $1,050 per academic year. Applicants must be New Jersey residents for 12 consecutive months prior to applying. An applicant must also be enrolled and matriculated at a participating New Jersey college or university. You will not receive TAG or EOF unless the Financial Aid Office determines that you have met all of the eligibility requirements. Students must also complete an application for EOF through the EOF office.

The Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished & Urban Scholars Award - Students demonstrating the highest level of academic achievement based upon their secondary school records and junior year Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores will be selected for consideration by their secondary schools. Additional scholarships will be provided to secondary school seniors from the state’s urban and economically distressed areas based on class rank and grade point average. Students accepting awards must enroll at a New Jersey college or university as full-time undergraduate students. Recipients must be legal residents of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months prior to receiving an award. Financial need is not a factor in determining eligibility. Students receiving the scholarship award may also receive TAG and EOF grants, if eligible.

New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) - NJ STARS is a new initiative created by the State of New Jersey that provides New Jersey’s brightest students with free tuition at their local community college. NJ STARS is available to high school students starting with the graduating class of 2004. Those who graduate within the top 20 percent of their class and meet all other criteria will have up to two years from the date of high school graduation to enroll and begin using the scholarship at ECC.

First, you must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You must apply so we can determine your eligibility for federal and state grants. After that, NJ STARS will cover the remaining balance of tuition and eligible fees. The NJ STARS does not cover certain fees, i.e. parking, insurance, late fees and tuition charges that exceed 15 credits. If you don’t qualify for any federal or state grants, NJ STARS will cover your tuition and fees. Students may receive up to 5 semesters of tuition and eligible fees from the program. For additional details about NJ STARS, contact ECC’s Office of Marketing and Recruitment at (973) 877-3346 at the Main Campus.

NJCLASS LOAN - The New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) Loan  Program is a state student loan program. At ECC, it is intended to make state-sponsored student loans available to students who cannot obtain federally backed student loans. The NJCLASS Program is administered by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA)

. The NJCLASS Program is established through legislation enacted in 1991.

First, you must apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligible borrowers include students, family members, and other individuals. There are no family income caps on eligibility for the NJCLASS Program, however, to be approved for the loan, a creditworthy borrower or cosigner must have an income that exceeds federal poverty guidelines, as adjusted annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There are no annual or aggregate loan limits for the loan. The amount borrowed may not exceed a student’s estimated cost of attendance (COA) minus all other financial assistance received by the student for the academic period for which the loan is intended.

The recipient of the loan shall be required to pay an application and an administrative fee to the Authority, which combined shall not exceed 3.5 percent of the total approved loan amount. These fees shall be deducted from the loan proceeds. For multiply disbursed loans, these fees shall be deducted in equal installments, from each loan disbursement.

The NJCLASS fixed rate loan is available to an eligible student acting as the borrower, or a creditworthy parent, legal guardian, or spouse may borrow for a student to attend an eligible institution. A borrower must be creditworthy or obtain a creditworthy cosigner for the loan. The borrower is responsible for paying the interest that accrues on the loan from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. Repayment of the loan is scheduled over a maximum 15-year period. The NJCLASS Loan Program is the only loan program offered at ECC. Call 800-792-8670 to obtain an application for the NJCLASS LOAN. Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits to qualify for the loan.

THE PILOT PART-TIME TUITION AID GRANT PROGRAM (PPTG) - The Pilot Part-time Tuition Aid Grant Program is a state funded grant. These funds do not have to be repaid. All eligibility requirements of the TAG Program, with the exception of full-time enrollment, apply to the Pilot Part-time TAG Program. Students in this program must register for 6-11 credits. Award levels are based on the New Jersey Eligibility Index (NJEI) and the number of credits taken. Students receiving Pilot Part-time TAG awards are not eligible for Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Grants or Garden State Scholarships (GSS). Students will be notified of part-time award eligibility via the Student Eligibility Notice (SEN). This award is estimated for the Fall Semester, while part-time Spring awards are subject to available state appropriations.

You may be eligible for educational benefits if you are a veteran or currently in the Reserves or the National Guards. Veterans with a 10% or more service connected disability may be eligible for the VA Rehabilitation Program. Children and spouses of veterans who are disabled or deceased as a result of being in the military service may be eligible for educational assistance as well. Contact the Veterans Affairs Office at (973) 877-3154.

Eligibility Requirements for Pell, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and Federal Work-Study (FWS)
· Have financial need

· Have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate or pass a test approved by the U.S. Department of Education

· Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program

· Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

· Have a valid Social Security Number

· Meet satisfactory academic progress standards set by the College (Click here to see the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Students.)

· Certify you will use federal aid only for educational purposes

· Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and that you do not owe money on a federal student grant

· Register with the Selective Service System, if required

· Submit all requested documents to the financial aid office when requested. The longer you delay, the longer it takes the aid office to determine you eligibility.

Note: The Federal aid programs will only pay for 30 Attempted Remedial Credits.

Eligibility Requirements for the Tuition Aid Grant Program (TAG)
· Have financial need

· Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

· Meet satisfactory academic progress standards set by the College

· Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and that you do not owe money on a federal student grant

· Register with the Selective Service System, if required

· Be full-time (12 or more credits)

· You must be a resident of the state of New Jersey for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to receiving an award.

· Not have a baccalaureate or associate degree

· Not have received the maximum number of grant payments allowed (that’s 5 payments at ECC)

Eligibility Requirements for Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)
Eligibility requirements for the EOF Program are the same as TAG with the following additions:

· EOF students are required to complete a separate application for aid with the EOF Office at Essex County College.

· The program is designed to provide an opportunity for higher education to disadvantaged New Jersey residents who would be unable to attend and/or succeed academically in college without financial assistance and special services that are part of the program.

Eligibility Requirements for Non-High School Graduates
Federal regulation requires all students applying for aid to have a high school diploma or GED. If you do not have a high school diploma or GED, you must take test approved by the U.S. Department of Education which measures your ability to benefit from the education offered at ECC. The test is administered by the College in English or Spanish. You must pass all parts of the test to be considered for aid. The results of the test will be sent to you and the Financial Aid Office by the office administering the test.

If you do not pass all parts of the test, you will not be eligible for federal aid and you must pay your own registration bill. You must take and pass the test prior to the end of the semester that you apply for aid.

General Eligibility Requirements
Those in the following categories may receive federal student aid:

· U.S. Citizens

· U.S. Nationals (includes natives of American Samoa or Swain’s Island)

· U.S. Permanent Residents who have an I-51, I-551 or I-55IC (Alien Registration Receipt Card)

If you are not in one of these categories, you must have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) showing one of the following designations in order to be eligible:

· Refugee

· Asylum Granted

· Indefinite Parole and/or Humanitarian Parole

· Cuban-Haitian Entrant, Status Pending

· Conditional Entrant (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)

If you have only a Notice of Approval to apply for Permanent Residence (I-171 or I-464), you are not eligible for federal student aid.

If you are in the United States on an F1 or F2 student visa only or on a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa only, you cannot get federal student aid. Also, persons with G series visas (pertaining to international organizations) are not eligible for federal student aid.
Type and Sources of Financial Aid/ Eligibility Requirements