Tuition-Free Programs

Students who meet all of the following are eligible for the Red Hawk Advantage Award:

• You are a New Jersey resident (including NJ Dreamers) and meet the NJ HESAA residency requirements.
• You complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application and meet all state deadlines; you also check and complete any state aid requirements through HESAA.
• Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on the FAFSA falls within the program’s income guidelines for you or your family.
• You are working toward your first bachelor’s degree and have earned fewer than 60 college credits (including accepted transfer credits).
• You are enrolled full time (12–18 credits) in the fall and/or spring semesters at Montclair or Bloomfield College of Montclair State University.
• You are in your first or second year based on earned credits (0–30 credits = first year; 31–59 credits = second year).
• You complete all verification steps and submit any documents requested by Montclair or NJHESAA.
• You maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

To be considered for the Red Hawk Advantage Award, you don’t need a separate application. Once you submit your FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application, you’re automatically reviewed.

Remember these key steps:

• Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible, or the NJ Alternative Application if you’re an NJ Dreamer.
• Submit your FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application by all state grant deadlines.
• Turn in any documents requested by Montclair’s Financial Aid Office.
• Respond to any HESAA requests for additional documentation by their deadlines.
• Finish the full state grant process, even if you don’t qualify for other state grants.

How is the Red Hawk Advantage Award grant determined?
The Red Hawk Advantage Award grant is based on the flat-rate tuition and mandatory fees, minus all federal, state, institutional, and outside grant or scholarship aid.

When will the Red Hawk Advantage Award grant be applied to my account?
The Red Hawk Advantage Award grant will be added to your financial aid once you become eligible and meet all NJHESAA criteria.

Am I eligible for the Red Hawk Advantage Award if I have an Associate’s Degree?
No. You can be eligible as a transfer student with fewer than 60 credits, as long as you meet all other criteria. Once you have earned 60 credits, you are no longer eligible for the Red Hawk Advantage Award; you may then be considered for the Garden State Guarantee.

What happens to my Red Hawk Advantage Award eligibility if I take a semester off?
The Red Hawk Advantage Award is available for up to four semesters while you are in your first and second years (based on earned credits). If you take a semester off, you can receive the award when you return to Montclair or Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, as long as you still meet all program requirements, including the Adjusted Gross Income requirements. Once you earn 60 or more college credits, you are no longer eligible, regardless of enrollment or degree status.

What happens if I withdraw from a course or all of my courses?
The Red Hawk Advantage Award grant may be reduced if your tuition changes due to your withdrawal, and any partial payment still counts toward your maximum number of payments. Visit the Add/Drop and Withdrawal page for more information.

Can I transfer to Montclair/Bloomfield and still be eligible for the Red Hawk Advantage Award?
Yes. All accepted transfer credits count toward your eligibility. You must have earned fewer than 60 credits to qualify for the Red Hawk Advantage Award.

I attended college several years ago and am returning to finish my bachelor’s degree. As a degree-completion or adult student, am I eligible for the Red Hawk Advantage Award?
Yes, as long as you meet all program eligibility criteria. The Red Hawk Advantage Award is a strong option for returning and independent students, because eligibility is based on your (and your spouse’s, if applicable) AGI.

I missed the state deadline to file or complete my state grant application. Can I still get the Red Hawk Advantage Award?
No. Missing a state deadline means you are not eligible for state programs for that semester. You may be eligible again for a later semester if you meet future deadlines.

How do I determine my AGI?
If you are a dependent student, only your parent(s)’ AGI is used. If you are independent, your AGI (and your spouse’s, if applicable) is used. Check the federal tax return you used for the FAFSA for this number.

My parents were not required to file a federal tax return. Am I eligible?
No. A 0 AGI is only eligible if your parent(s) or you and your spouse, if applicable, indicate that taxes “were filed” or “will be filed” on the FAFSA. A blank AGI is not eligible.

My parents have a negative federal AGI. Am I eligible?
No. Under NJHESAA policy, families with negative AGIs are not eligible for the Red Hawk Advantage Award or the Tuition Assistance Grant.

I’m not eligible for state grants because of my family’s other income or assets. Will I still qualify for the Red Hawk Advantage Award?
Possibly. The Red Hawk Advantage Award is based only on AGI, not on other income or assets, so families can more easily see if they qualify.

If I am paying for college myself, can my eligibility be based only on my AGI?
Not if you are required to include parent information on the FAFSA. In that case, eligibility is based on your parent(s)’ AGI, even if you live on your own and support yourself.

What if I am independent?
If you meet the FAFSA criteria to be considered an independent student and are not required to include parent information – or you are approved for a dependency override by the University – your own AGI (and your spouse’s, if applicable) will be used to determine eligibility.

My family’s income has changed and the FAFSA no longer reflects our situation. What are my options?
You may request a review of your aid through an appeal process (Request for Review). Check the appeals page for details and required documentation.

I have scholarships and grants but also live on campus. Why can’t I use those funds for housing and use the Red Hawk Advantage Award for tuition and fees?
The Red Hawk Advantage Award is a last-dollar grant that only applies to tuition and fees that remain after all other grants and scholarships are applied. If other aid already covers your tuition and fees, there is no remaining balance for the Red Hawk Advantage Award to pay.

I am eligible for Veterans’ benefits. Does this affect my Red Hawk Advantage Award?
No. Military tuition benefits paid to the school for tuition and fees are not counted in the Red Hawk Advantage Award eligibility calculation.

Students who meet all of the following are eligible for the Garden State Guarantee:

• You are a New Jersey resident (including NJ Dreamers) and meet the NJ HESAA residency requirements.
• You complete the FAFSA (or NJ Alternative Application, if applicable) and meet all state deadlines; and you check and complete any state aid requirements through HESAA.
• Your Garden State Guarantee amount is based on your tuition and mandatory fees minus any federal, state and other scholarship or grant aid you receive.
• Your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on the FAFSA falls within the program’s income guidelines, using parent AGI for dependent students or student/spouse AGI for independent students.
• You are working toward your first bachelor’s degree and have earned no more than 128 credits; if you exceed 128 credits after the fall term, Garden State Guarantee funding is cancelled for spring.
• You are enrolled full time (12–18 credits) in the fall and/or spring semesters at Montclair State University.
• You are in your third or fourth year based on earned credits (60–89 credits = third year; 90–128 credits = fourth year, including accepted transfer credits).
• You complete all verification steps and submit any documents requested by Montclair or NJHESAA.
• You maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Consideration is automatic with your FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application—there is no separate Garden State Guarantee application to complete.

Remember these important application requirements:

• Complete your FAFSA as soon as possible, or the NJ Alternative Application if you’re an NJ Dreamer.
• File the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application by HESAA’s state grant deadlines.
• If HESAA requests additional documentation, submit it by their deadlines.
• Finish the full state grant process (including any requested documents), even if you are not eligible for other state grants.
• Submit any documentation requested by Montclair’s Financial Aid Office.

How is the Garden State Guarantee grant determined?
The Garden State Guarantee grant is based on the flat-rate tuition and mandatory fees, minus all federal, state, institutional, and outside grants or scholarships.

When will the Garden State Guarantee grant be applied to my account?
The Garden State Guarantee grant will be added to your financial aid once you become eligible and meet all NJHESAA criteria.

Am I eligible for the Garden State Guarantee if I have an Associate’s degree?
Yes, as long as you meet all other eligibility criteria. Once you have earned 128 credits or completed your bachelor’s degree, you are no longer eligible.

What happens to my Garden State Guarantee eligibility if I take a semester off?
The Garden State Guarantee is available for up to four semesters total while you are in your third and fourth years (based on earned credits). If you take a semester off, you can receive the Garden State Guarantee when you return to Montclair State University as long as you still meet all program requirements, including the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) requirements. Semesters of Garden State Guarantee funding used at any other New Jersey public four-year institution count toward your four total semesters of eligibility. Once you earn 128 or more credits, you are no longer eligible. Because this is a state program, changes to legislation or funding are outside Montclair State University’s control and could affect future availability.

What happens if I withdraw from a course or all of my courses?
The Garden State Guarantee grant may be reduced if your tuition changes due to your withdrawal, and any partial payment still counts toward the maximum number of payments allowed.

Can I transfer to Montclair State and still be eligible for the Garden State Guarantee?
Yes. All accepted transfer credits count toward your eligibility. You must have at least 60 but no more than 128 earned credits to qualify. You do not have to start or stay at one school to use the Garden State Guarantee at Montclair State University.

I attended college several years ago and am returning to finish my bachelor’s degree. As a degree-completion or adult student, am I eligible for the Garden State Guarantee?
Yes, as long as you meet the program eligibility criteria. The Garden State Guarantee can be a strong option for returning and independent students, since eligibility is based on your AGI (and your spouse’s, if applicable).

I missed the state deadline to file or complete my state grant application. Can I still get the Garden State Guarantee?
No. Missing a state deadline means you are not eligible for state programs, including the Garden State Guarantee, for that semester. You may be eligible again for a later semester if you meet future deadlines.

How do I determine my AGI?
If you are a dependent student, only your parent(s)’ AGI is used. If you are independent, your AGI (and your spouse’s, if applicable) is used. Check the federal tax return you used for the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application for this number.

My parents were not required to file a federal tax return. Am I eligible?
No. A 0 AGI is only eligible if your parent(s) or you and your spouse, if applicable, indicate that taxes “were filed” or “will be filed” on the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application. A blank AGI is not eligible.

My parents have a negative federal AGI. Am I eligible?
No. Under NJHESAA policy, families with negative AGIs are not eligible for the Garden State Guarantee or the Tuition Assistance Grant.

I’m not eligible for state grants because of my family’s other income or assets. Will I still qualify for the Garden State Guarantee?
Possibly. The Garden State Guarantee is based only on AGI, not on other income or assets, so families can more easily see if they qualify.

If I am paying for college myself, can my eligibility be based only on my AGI?
Not if you are required to include parent information on the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application. In that case, eligibility is based on your parent(s)’ AGI, even if you live on your own and support yourself.

What if I am independent?
If you meet the FAFSA criteria to be considered an independent student and are not required to include parent information – or you are approved for a dependency status appeal by the University – your own AGI (and your spouse’s, if applicable) is used to determine eligibility. Some dependency appeals may not be approved for state funding.

My family’s income has changed and the FAFSA no longer reflects our situation. What are my options?
You may request a review of your aid through an appeal process (Request for Review). If the income adjustment meets NJHESAA criteria, results in a qualifying AGI, and you still have remaining tuition and fee costs after other grants and scholarships, Garden State Guarantee funds can be applied.

I have scholarships and grants but also live on campus. Why can’t I use those funds for housing and use the Garden State Guarantee for tuition and fees?
The Garden State Guarantee is a last-dollar grant that only helps with tuition and fees that remain after all other grants and scholarships are applied. If other aid already covers your tuition and fees, there is no remaining balance for the Garden State Guarantee to pay.

I am eligible for Veterans’ benefits. Does this affect my Garden State Guarantee?
No. Military tuition benefits paid directly to the school for tuition and fees are not counted in the Garden State Guarantee eligibility calculation.