Program to begin in spring semester, aimed at helping those who need imminent financial assistance
Camden County College is one of 13 community colleges in New Jersey where qualifying students can apply for Community College Opportunity Grants (CCOG) beginning in the spring 2019 semester.
These “last-dollar” grants cover remaining costs of tuition and approved education fees after all other financial aid grant awards have been applied to a student’s term bill. This first-of-its-kind opportunity is available to qualifying families under the tuition-free community college pilot program known as the Community College Innovation Challenge.
“New Jersey is pioneering a path to financial security for today’s students by positioning itself as a leader in the fight against ballooning student debt,” said County Freeholder Ed McDonnell. “Last year, more than 60 percent of New Jersey’s college graduates left school with student loan debt. Of them, the average obligation was $31,000. The Board is excited to take part in this opportunity and offer low-income families a path towards a debt-free higher education.”
Students with adjusted gross incomes between $0 and $45,000 and who are enrolled in at least six credits at Camden County College in Spring 2019 will be eligible to receive CCOG grants. Students will be required to maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible. In order to qualify, students must still complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including state-specific questions.
“We want to once again applaud Gov. Murphy’s vision and commitment to expanding college access and affordability across the state,” McDonnell said. “Cost should not be a barrier to higher education for those who seek it. The Board shares the governor’s vision that all New Jerseyans have the opportunity to pursue their education as far as they can.”
CCOG Pilot Schools were selected based on proposals that were jointly reviewed by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). Proposals were evaluated by a standardized rubric following the criteria announced in the Notice of Fund Availability that was posted in July 2018. HESAA estimates that New Jersey will provide CCOG awards to approximately 13,000 students at the selected pilot schools, in line with the funding level appropriated for this purpose in the state’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget.
All 19 of New Jersey’s community colleges applied to participate in the Community College Innovation Challenge. The selected colleges received a $250,000 grant for student outreach, recruitment, support, and further expansion.
