Free tuition is in the STARS!
Were you ranked in the top 15.0% of your class at the end of junior or senior year? You could attend RCBC for five full semesters tuition FREE!
NJ STARS Checklist:
- Apply to RCBC and declare a major in an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree program.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and State (HESAA) requirements.
- Submit your official high school transcript.
- Register full-time for 12-18 college credits.
- Make a payment or payment plan toward fees on your account.
If you have further questions about what NJ STARS is, please refer to HESAA’s website at www.hesaa.org, keyword NJ STARS.
Reward Yourself With Free Tuition
The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) is a program created by the State of New Jersey to provide high-achieving students easier access to higher education.
RCBC offers students support to ensure they are successful in the NJ STARS program. In addition to awarding students efficiently, the honors coordinator guides students on a path toward personal achievement and degree completion. Choosing to take advantage of NJ STARS at RCBC is a well-rewarded step toward the future.
The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) Program is an initiative created by the State of New Jersey that provides New Jersey’s highest achieving students with free tuition at their home county college. The NJ STARS award covers the cost of tuition, less any State and/or Federal grants and scholarships, for up to five semesters.
If you meet the following requirements, you could be a STAR!
- You are a New Jersey resident.
- You rank in the top 15.0% of your class at the end of Junior or Senior year of high school (*Note: This is based on your weighted rank.).
- You are within five semesters of your high school graduation.
NJ STARS will cover tuition only at RCBC for between 12-18 credits per fall and spring semester for up to five semesters.
(*Note: If you have any other federal or state grant funding, this may be applied to your tuition first.)
- Maintain full-time status – between 12 to 18 credits per semester (about 4-6 courses).
- Reach a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 prior to the start of your third semester. (*Note: This only includes courses taken while enrolled at RCBC in the NJ STARS Program, and does include summer courses.)
- Complete FAFSA, HESAA, and any additional financial aid documents requested of you annually.
The NJ STARS II Program is a continuation of the NJ STARS Program that provides successful NJ STARS students at New Jersey county colleges with funding to transfer to a New Jersey four-year college/university to earn a bachelor’s degree. NJ STARS II allows students who graduate while in the NJ STARS program to receive the NJ STARS II scholarship at an approved New Jersey State College or University. If you graduate with at least a 3.25 GPA, have a family income less than $250,000 and meet all other program eligibility requirements, you may be eligible to receive an NJ STARS II award.
“RCBC provided me with an alternate route to earning an education and degree. University can be quite expensive, but starting out at RCBC reduces some of those costs and allows me to explore what I want to pursue without worry. In addition, RCBC is helping me transition into college life steadily and comfortably. There are so many resources at this college that I can count on to help me, and RCBC also makes sure I know what’s available to me.”
Danielle Davenport
Computer Science, Class of 2025
“So far, I have loved my NJ STARS experience, the staff have been very helpful guiding me in the right direction and understanding what might be the best option for my future. One thing that NJSTARS offers, that I notice is I would not get at another institute is the efficacy of the program. RCBC’s NJ STARS program keeps me updated with important deadlines, more opportunities, and a community that cares about how they operate and how they can help all of their students.”
Lahaina Lorenzo
Exercise Science Health and Wellness Promotion, Class of 2024