New Jersey Grants & Scholarships

We have always heard from our parents and elders that the only way to be successful in life is to go to college and get a proper education.

This is sometimes easier said than done. With the high costs of tuition, books, and room and board, who can afford to get the education they need to succeed?

That is why there are scholarships and grants to help pay for the costs of college. They are offered by the government and by the colleges of America themselves.

New Jersey is home to many great colleges and opportunities. With these opportunities for advancement comes the scholarships and grants to make your dreams possible.

Not only is New Jersey home to some of the best schools in the country, but it is also very likely than you can find a scholarship or grant that you deserve at one of these schools.

Other than filling out an application, there may be additional requirments you must meet to be eligible for these types of assistance.

Sometimes you must be pursuing a certain major, hold a higher GPA(grade-point average) than the average student, be of a diverse ethnicity or fall into a certain income range. Whatever the requirements are, there is sure to be just the right scholarship somewhere in New Jersey.

Berkeley College offers a huge selection of scholarship and grant possibilities. Here you can receive an alumni scholarship, which is given to students that maintain a high-school GPA of 3.0 and above, and enrolled as a full-time student. There are 160 partial-scholarships and eight full scholarships awarded annually. The alumni scholarship is renewable as long as all criteria are met each year.

Ethel C. Townsend Foundation Scholarships These are a little bit different in that the requirements may change from time to time. Sometimes you must submit a written essay as to why you deserve this scholarship, other times you need only apply. Of course, you may request more information from Berkeley at any time about this program.

Next on the list of opportunities from Berkeley comes Achievement Awards. To receive an Achievement Award you must demonstrate a high level of accomplishment in your efforts and be an overall excellent student.

Again, a GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for this program. Residence Grants are given to students with a GPA of 2.5 and higher, and to those that live more than 100 miles from campus. Award amounts vary but are given annually. That’s not all. Berkeley has countless grant and scholarship options, to name them all would leave no room for anything else.

The College of New Jersey is a State University full of scholarships for almost anyone. Freshman Merit-based scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen who demonstrate great academic potential. According to the College of New Jersey, more than half of in-state students who apply for this scholarship are awarded between $3,000 and $6,000 over four years.

TCNJ also gives a Community Leaders Scholarship. To qualify for this, you must show dedication to serving your community and give 300 hours or more per year. Students displaying strong citizenship and community leadership skills can receive up to a full ride, though award amounts do vary.

The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Scholarship is designated for those with dire financial need, and having had difficult life circumstances. Good applicants must also show promise as a community leader and show overall good character. Department Scholarships are also available in the areas of engineering and music. These awards are determined by the departments themselves and your desire to grow within the department is a big factor in being awarded this scholarship.

You will have no problem finding a great scholarship from Thomas Edison State College. The Thomas M. Eklund Endowment Scholarship was established in honor of the assistant dean for academic advisement. To be eligible for this scholarship, you need only be enrolled or in the enrollment process.

If you are pursuing an undergraduate degree in need of assistance then you just might be eligible for The Donna and Richard Gillespie Endowed Scholarship. Provided as a general scholarship program, these criteria are all that’s needed. Other programs falling into this same category are The Norma L. Horton Endowed Scholarship, and The Larraine R. Matusak Endowed Scholarship.

Of course, there are lots of other scholarship programs that are less generalized. The Fred C. Rummel Endowed Scholarship is given to single mothers trying to get a college education. Students with a desire to make a positive impact on society are eligible for The Edith and Oscar Smilak Memorial Scholarship.

Rutgers State University of New Jersey offers graduate and undergraduate scholarship programs for all. The Ralph Johnson Bunche Distinguished Graduate Award was established in 1979 for incoming full-time students with a significant financial or educational hindrance. A $15,000 stipend is awarded plus two years of tuition remission for qualified students.

There are loads of other funding options offered by Rutgers, graduate scholarship programs and school-specific programs as well.

New Jersey City University currently offers the following scholarship programs:

1. Angela Giardina Maxwell Memorial Scholarship- Established in 1990 for those with an interest in the teaching profession
2. Black Administrators, Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Student Organization (BAAFSSO) Scholarship Fund- This program is designed to promote ethnical diversity, mainly those of African descent.
3. Council on Hispanic Affairs (CHA) Scholarship- The Council on Hipanic Affairs is made up of volunteer students, faculty, and staff of hispanic descent and awards scholarships to those alike with a high academic distinction.
4. John Mercier Memorial Scholarship Fund- Divided equally between two incoming, full-time freshmen possessing ideal leadership quality within a community. For this you must be experienced in community service or extracurricular activities, maintain a GPA of 2.5-3.0, and, you must write an essay describing your leadesrhip and community service experiences.
5. Donald J. Silberman Endowment Scholarship- Awarded annually in two equal amounts of $500. To be eligible for this program, you must have a GPA of 3.3 or higher and write a 3-4 page explanation of labor unions and society. New Jersey City University also offers a large number of scholarship programs to fit almost any major or degree program. History, teaching, art, graphic design, music, mathematics, and many more.

The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey awards several scholarships annually to full-time students based upon SAT scores and high school class rank. A Presidential Scholarship for $18,000 annually would require a score of 1,400 or more with combined math and critical reading. A Provost’s Scholarship only requires an SAT score of 1,250 but only awards $11,000. The Dean’s Scholarship awards $7,000 to the students that scored 1,150 or higher on the SAT. Lastly, the Stockton Scholarship program awards $2,000 and up, depending on the circumstances.

As you more than likely already know, this list could go on practically forever. There is so much financial assistance out there for your use that going to school is possible for everyone.

While your education should be your top priority, it is also important to keep in mind what great opportunities lie in wait; and not to worry about financing your college education, there is help. You may have to do some digging and find the right program for your needs and skills, but the end result is very much worth the effort.