New Jersey College Promise – Earn Your Degree Debt-Free

Yes, a student may be eligible for a CCOG award at an out‐of‐county college. If a student enrolls at an out‐of‐county college and meets all eligibility requirements for a CCOG award, the student’s CCOG award amount shall be computed based upon the in‐county tuition rate for the student’s home county college. CCOG awards do not cover additional tuition charges attributable to the difference between the tuition rate charged by a student’s home county college tuition and the out‐of‐county college tuition rate charged when that student enrolls at an out‐of‐county college.

A student taking remedial courses may be eligible for CCOG if the student meets all other CCOG eligibility requirements, including the institution’s definition of part‐time or full‐time enrollment in accordance with N.J.A.C. 9A:9‐2.10 Verification of Enrollment and Academic Performance.

To apply for CCOG, all students (renewal and new students) must complete and file the FAFSA or New Jersey Alternative Application according to agency deadlines in order to apply for all other available forms of federal and state need‐based grants and merit scholarships. This includes the student satisfying all requirements to determine his or her eligibility to receive payments of these state and federal grants and scholarships within established state deadlines. https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/StateApplicationDeadlines.aspx
The FAFSA can be completed at www.fafsa.gov or for the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application at https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/NJAlternativeApplication.aspx.

Students who are in a dual enrollment program and still in high school would not be eligible for CCOG. They must be matriculated students with a high school diploma or GED.

To receive CCOG award, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) must be no less than $0 to no more than $100,000. For a dependent student the AGI refers to parental AGI as reported on the financial aid application. For an independent student AGI refers to the AGI reported on the financial aid application for the student and, if applicable, the student’s spouse.

To remain eligible for State financial aid, including CCOG, students must meet the minimum standards for academic performance and progress as defined by the college or university in the institution’s catalog. Students must achieve the minimum level of academic success for CCOG, which is defined as either a) meeting the standards for academic performance and satisfactory academic progress that the county college adopts to determine eligibility for Federal student aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and its implementing regulations and rules; or, b) earning a minimum grade point average of 1.8 in the semester immediately prior to receiving a CCOG award. Each institution is required to monitor academic progress at least once a year, prior to the fall semester. Institutions may not credit a student’s account if it has been determined that a student is not making satisfactory progress. Students who fail to meet institutional standards for academic performance and progress are not eligible to receive State financial aid through the programs administered by HESAA until such time as the institution is able to certify they are in good academic standing and are making satisfactory academic progress.

CCOG pays “Required Fees” which, as per the US Department of Education, include all fixed sum charges that are required of such a large proportion of all students that the student who does not pay the charges is an exception.

Additionally, acceptable fees are featured on the initial term bill and include the following:

• General fees
• Registration fees
• Facility fees
• Technology fees
• Lab fees
• Program/ General Course Fees, including fees for coursework in nursing, culinary, and other career and technical education programs
• Online access fees
• Student Activity fees

Examples of fees that are excluded from the definition include the following. If you are not sure if a fee at your institution is acceptable, please email ccog@hesaa.org for clarification.

Non‐Educational Fees

• Books (purchased or rental)
• Equipment/Supplies/Uniforms (purchase or rental)
• Insurance/Health Fees
• Application Fees
• Library Fees
• Late Fees or Fines
• Testing/Portfolio/Audit Fees
• Licensing/Certification Fees
• Criminal Background
• Check Fees
• Parking Fees
• Gym/Fitness Fees
• Aviation/Flight Time Fees
• Change Fees
• Graduation/Diploma Fees
• Transcript Fees
• International Fees
• Out‐of‐state or Out‐of‐county Fees
• Curriculum Review Fees
• Payment Plan Fees

The New Jersey county college the student attends shall notify the student of eligibility as part of the financial aid award information, as well as any supplemental methods the college determines appropriate. Such notification by the county college will include the amount of the scholarship.

If, for any reason, a student, his or her family, or an institution feels that the application of these policies results in an unfair determination of eligibility, an appeal shall be filed with the Authority within 60 days of initial notification of eligibility or ineligibility for a CCOG award. All appeals shall be in writing, and if appropriate shall include any supporting documentation. Appeals shall be addressed to the Director of Grants and Scholarships at the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, PO Box 540, Trenton, New Jersey 08625‐0540 or submitted electronically, and shall contain the student's full name, NJHESAA ID number, college of attendance, and a description of the basis for the appeal. The Director of Grants and Scholarship will respond with the Authority's final determination of the appeal