New Jersey Survivor Tuition Benefits Program
Offered by New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
About this scholarship
The New Jersey Survivor Tuition Benefits Program provides tuition support to eligible children and surviving spouses of New Jersey firefighters, emergency service workers, and law-enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty. At eligible public institutions, the benefit can cover full tuition; students at participating private institutions may receive an amount up to the highest tuition charged at a New Jersey public institution. The award is subject to available funding and provides no more than eight total payments. Students must be U.S. citizens, eligible noncitizens, or eligible to file the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application; have lived permanently in New Jersey for the twelve consecutive months immediately before enrollment; hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent; attend an approved New Jersey institution; and maintain satisfactory academic progress. A child of the deceased first responder must apply within eight years of high school graduation, while there is no equivalent time limit for a surviving spouse. Limited summer support may be available to a student enrolled at least half time who has not exhausted the payment limit, received the scholarship in the preceding fall or spring, and will graduate at the end of the summer. Applicants create or sign in to NJFAMS and complete the specific STB application every year. The deadline is October 1 for students beginning in fall and March 1 for students beginning in spring.
Eligibility
- Be a child or surviving spouse of a qualifying New Jersey first responder killed in the line of duty
- Be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen, or eligible New Jersey Dreamer
- Be a permanent New Jersey resident for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before enrollment
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Enroll in good standing in an undergraduate program at an eligible New Jersey institution
- If applying as a child, apply within eight years of high school graduation
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Complete the STB application in NJFAMS every academic year
- Apply by October 1 for fall entry or March 1 for spring entry