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What is the free tuition program?
Many students at Rowan College at Burlington County will qualify for free tuition and fees in the because of the state’s Community College Opportunity Grant.
Am I eligible?
Generally, students from New Jersey whose families earned less than $65,000 last year and take at least six credits per term may be eligible for free tuition. Students from families earning between $65,000 and $100,000 may be eligbile for reduced tuition. The state will determine your eligibility.
I’m in! What’s next?
There is no specific application for the state’s free tuition program. All you need to do is apply to RCBC, and complete your financial aid application at fafsa.gov or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application and submit any information requested by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. We’ll do the rest!
Once we receive your application, we will contact you about placement testing and scheduling an appointment to meet with an academic advisor. Our Financial Aid team will process your financial aid and determine whether you are eligible for the free tuition program.
I think I qualify, but when will I know for sure?
Your funding is determined by your financial aid application. This process can take two to four weeks to complete.
We will notify you of eligibility as part of the financial aid award information. We send out written notice to your student email. You can also meet with a Financial Aid officer during our normal business hours. Contact financialaid@rcbc.edu if you need more help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! While courses that are developmental or for learning English as a second language may not provide credit toward your degree, they may be eligible for state grants if you meet other criteria.
Students who are in a dual enrollment program and still in high school are not eligible for this grant. Eligible students must be degree-seeking students with a high school diploma or high school equivalency degree.
Depending on your tax filing, your family’s income will likely affect your eligibility. Part of the review considers your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), which is the amount of the money earned in a year before taxes. If your parents claim you on their tax forms, then their income will count. If you file jointly with a spouse, then their income will count.
Yes, and we're here to help you meet these requirements. RCBC offers free tutoring, student support services and advising resources to help you throughout the semester. We want to help you achieve your goals!
To remain eligible for state financial aid, including CCOG, students must meet the minimum standards for academic performance and progress as detailed in the RCBC catalog. The catalog details all of the expectations for academic performance, as well as details on every college program and course.
Minimum standards include a GPA of a 2.0. More information about Satisfactory Academic Progress is available through rcbc.edu/financialaid.
According to the most recent materials available from the state, the following fees will be covered:
- General fees
- Registration fees
- Facility fees
- Technology fees
- Lab fees
- Program/ General Course Fees
- Student Activity fees
Fees that are NOT covered by the CCOG program include:
- Books
- Equipment/Supplies/uniforms
- Insurance/health fees
- Application fees
- Clinical and specialized program fees
- Late fees, change fees, library fees or other fines
- Payment Plan Fees
- Testing/portfolio/audit Fees
- Other non-educational fees, including any fees for program specific requirements
If you disagree with RCBC’s determination, you can file an appeal with the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). According to HESAA, this appeal must be filed within 60 days of the initial notification of ineligibility. Your appeal must be submitted in writing to the address detailed below and must include any documentation that helps explain your reason for appealing.
In addition to any documentation you wish to submit, your written appeal must include your full name (or the full name of the student), NJHESAA ID number, name of the college (RCBC) and a description of the basis for the appeal.
The director of Grants and Scholarships will respond with the authority's final determination of the appeal.
You can submit the appeal to
Director of Grants and Scholarships
Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
PO Box 540
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0540
For more information from HESSA:
hesaa.org/Documents/CCOG/CCOGQnA.pdf
Contact Us
This website is funded from the "Community College Opportunity Grant" program. The "Community College Opportunity Grant" program is in partnership with, and administered by, the State of New Jersey, Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE).