The Governor’s Urban Scholarship program is a merit-based scholarship that benefits students in New Jersey’s economically challenged communities. The award is valued at $1,000 each year ($500 per semester) for up to four years (eight semesters). Awards are available for the regular fall and spring semesters only (no awards are made for the summer or winter term).
Candidates are selected for consideration by their high school based on standard academic criteria in the fall of their senior year in high school. Award recipients are notified of their potential eligibility in December of their senior year in high school.
Students must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a permanent New Jersey resident for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to enrollment.
- Reside in one of the high-need designated communities in New Jersey: Asbury Park City, Burlington City, Bridgeton, Camden City, East Orange City, Elizabeth, Garfield, Gloucester City, Harrison, Hoboken, Irvington Township, Jersey City, Keansburg, Lakewood, Long Branch, Millville City, Neptune Township, Newark City, New Brunswick City, Orange, Passaic City, Paterson City, Pemberton Township, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Plainfield City, Pleasantville, Roselle Borough, Salem City, Trenton City, Union City, Vineland City, or West New York.
- Rank within the top 5.0% of their class and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher at the end of the junior year of high school.
- Be a U.S. citizen, an eligible non-citizen, or eligible to file the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application within established state deadlines and meet all program requirements including a New Jersey Eligibility Index (NJEI) below 10,500.
- Be enrolled full-time in an approved degree program.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress to qualify for renewal.