To be considered for financial aid based on your financial need, be sure to file the FAFSA. In many cases, you'll be considered automatically, with no separate grant application required. Freshmen who are offered grants must acknowledge acceptance of the award by submitting their tuition deposits by May 1.
Federal Pell Grant
These grants are awarded based on financial need if you are an undergraduate enrolled for at least 1 credit and have not received a first bachelor's degree. In addition to many other requirements, you must also be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen and have a high-school diploma or GED, or demonstrate the ability to benefit from the program offered. Award amounts depend on your reported cost of attendance, your estimated family contribution (derived from the information you provide on the FAFSA), and your choice of whether to attend full or part time.
Educational Opportunity Fund
You are eligible for the EOF grant if you are a full-time student who has been designated through the Educational Opportunity Program at NJIT to receive funds from the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority according to specific criteria. EOF funding is disbursed in the form of refunds to purchase books, course materials, supplies, & equipment each semester. There are also limited New Jersey EOF Summer Grants available. Contact the EOP Office for more information.
Tuition Aid Grant
You may receive TAG if you are a full-time undergraduate with financial need, do not have your first bachelor's degree, and are a legal resident of New Jersey. (If you are under 24, your parents must also be legal residents of New Jersey.) The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) determines eligibility and will notify you of any awards through a student eligibility notice. Any documents requested by HESAA can be submitted to them for review by using the instructions found here. Please be advised that before the grant can disburse, the office of SFAS must certify that you meet all program eligibility requirements. You must provide all requested information to HESAA by the State Deadlines. Read State Aid Eligibility FAQs.
To be considered annually for a Tuition Aid Grant, the state must receive your processed FAFSA by the following dates:
- April 15: Renewal students
- September 15: Nonrenewal students
- February 15: Nonrenewal Students, spring term only
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
You are eligible to receive the SEOG if you are a Pell-eligible undergraduate student pursuing your first bachelor's degree, and you demonstrate exceptional financial need, typically equated with a -1500 Student Aid Index (SAI) as indicated on your student-aid report.
SEOG awards are calculated according to the chart below:
Housing Type/Residency | Academic Year Award | Semester Award |
On-campus | $1,000 | $500 |
NJ Residents Living Off-campus | $500 | $250 |
Students Living with Parents | $200 | $100 |
Note: Students living off-campus will need to prove they have a local and permanent address.
Highlander Student Emergency Fund Application (up to $500)
The NJIT Highlander Student Emergency Fund is provided through the funds raised by the Faculty and Staff at the University. This fund is for limited financial assistance when students are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of temporary hardship related to an emergency situation. The dollars provided through this fund are not a loan, however, students receiving support are encouraged to replenish the fund, if possible, so that other students may also benefit. Applicants must state the amount requested and provide documentation to support that amount.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicant must be a currently enrolled full-time student (undergraduate or graduate) at NJIT and have a temporary financial hardship resulting from an emergency situation.
- An individual is only eligible one time during their academic year to apply for emergency assistance.
- Be able to provide sufficient documentation of financial hardship (see examples below).
- Good standing with the University
Types of Covered Expenses: Typical expenses that may be covered include those that arise from unexpected incidents that create a financial hardship. To include but not limited to:
- Travel emergency
- Medical emergency
- Fire damage
- Temporary housing accidents
Supporting Documentation: To include but not limited to:
- Medical Bills
- Estimates for repairs
- Documentary Evidence (photographs or videos)
- Letters of Support (usually witnesses of your need)
Application Procedure: Fill out the application legibly and completely, supplying appropriate documentation then submit to Ivon Nunez – Director, Student Financial Aid Services, Student Mall, or via email to ivon.nunez@njit.edu. If approved, you will be notified of the fund amount - up to $500 - and funds will be available within approximately 72 hours of approval.
Committee Discretion: Decisions regarding distributions of monies from the Student Emergency Fund will be made on a case-by-case basis and will be made by the Student Emergency Fund Review Committee. Students will be awarded at most one Emergency Grant within the twelve (12) month period.
There are several types of educational loans that help students pay for college. We encourage you to carefully consider which loan options meet your needs, however, we do recommend you first consider federal student loan options as these generally have lower interest rates and better repayment terms as compared to private/alternative loans. Loans must be paid back with interest.
Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized, Federal Direct Parent PLUS, and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans are offered by the federal government. Private loans are issued by various private lenders. Each private lender has its own eligibility criteria, interest rates, and repayment terms.
Types of Loans
Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized/Unsubsidized)
Not only is NJIT affordable, but every year we administer $48 million in various types of financial aid, including scholarships (some designed especially for transfer students), grants, loans, and work-study.
Graduate student: Various types of financial support are available for full- and part-time matriculated graduate students. (You can find eligibility requirements and contact information on the Graduate Financial Support Contacts page.) Additionally, financial assistance is available to students enrolled in approved graduate-certificate programs.
Studying online: Graduate students may also study online to obtain an M.S. degree or a certificate. You may be eligible for financial aid if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Going overseas: Certain financial aid programs are available if you are participating in a study-abroad program that has been approved for credit by the university. In some cases, you may also receive assistance from certain student aid programs while studying at an institution of higher education other than NJIT, if a consortium or contractual agreement can be established.
Coming from overseas: We offer aid for international students as well. And if you are planning to attend a winter or a summer session, check out how we can assist you.
Not matriculated: Most financial aid is available only to matriculated students—that is, those who have been accepted into and are enrolled in a degree-granting program; however, certain private loans and federal and state tax credits may be available to non-matriculated undergraduate and non-degree graduate students who qualify.
In the military or a veteran: If you are a service member, veteran, or military civilians trying to reach your educational goals, check out what military benefits may be available to you.
Parents of student: To be eligible for the Parents PLUS Loan a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To apply, visit www.studentaid.gov and click Parent Borrower (Terms & Conditions apply).
** Information on this website about the student aid programs at NJIT is current as of the publication date of the individual site. NJIT reserves the right to change or cancel awards because of regulatory changes, revised allocations, or additional information concerning your financial aid eligibility. Awards are dependent upon program requirements and the availability of funds.
Student Financial Aid Services will guide you through the process of finding all the sources of aid that might be available to you and your family. We know that the costs of higher education must often be offset by some form of financial assistance—including a combination of scholarships, grants, loans and student employment.
Financial aid is funding for your college education that comes from sources outside your family, such as the federal government or an institution. Gift aid, which comes in the form of scholarships and grants, does not have to be repaid. Self-help aid, such as loans and work-study, is either repaid or earned, respectively.
At NJIT, the concept of "financial aid" typically refers to undergraduate awards that are offered based on financial need, merit, or both. Any combination of awards is referred to as your "financial aid package," which is calculated based on the information you provide on your FAFSA. Specifically, the package is determined by your Cost of Attendance (COA), Student Aid Index (SAI), and financial need. As a recipient of undergraduate financial aid, you can receive a combination of grants, scholarships, education loans, and student employment (work-study) in your financial aid package. (Graduate financial support is offered through the Office of Graduate Studies, not through Student Financial Aid Services.)
Financial aid is also available to graduate students in the form of education loans, such as a Federal Direct, Graduate PLUS, or private loans. To apply, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition to education loans, NJIT offers other sources of graduate financial support.
Visit other pages of our website to learn how eligibility is determined. Also learn how withdrawal, enrollment status, and other special circumstances—affect your financial aid package. You can also check out what to expect for summer and winter sessions.
For more information, contact Student Financial Aid Services.