Types of Aid
Explore types of financial aid at RCSJ, including grants, loans, scholarships, Federal Work-Study, and tuition waivers designed to make college affordable and support your academic success.
Grants
Grants are considered "gift aid," in which students do not need to repay this funding upon graduation. Most grant programs are government sponsored and awarded based on financial need.
Funds received through this program depend on a student's financial need (as determined by the U.S. Department of Education) and the cost of attendance associated with Rowan College.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, matriculate into an undergraduate program of study and demonstrates financial need. Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree are ineligible for this grant.
Apply: Complete the FAFSA. Visit the Federal Aid webpage for step-by-step instructions and helpful hints on navigating this process.
Funds received through this program depend on a student's financial need (as determined by the U.S. Department of Education), and other financial aid packaged the student's account. FSEOG funds are disbursed by the school.
Eligibility: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, matriculate into an undergraduate program of study and demonstrates financial need. Students who have already earned a bachelor's degree are ineligible for this grant.
Apply: Complete the FAFSA. Visit the Federal Aid webpage for step-by-step instructions and helpful hints on navigating this process.
Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG)
TAG covers a portion of tuition and will not cover the cost of a student's full term bill. A student's total award depends on several factors, including financial need, cost of attendance and available state funding.
Eligibility: Applicants must demonstrate financial need, as determined by the FAFSA. TAG awards are based on a student's financial need and tuition charges at Rowan College.
Apply: Complete the FAFSA then the HESAA State Grant Questions. Visit the Federal Aid and State Aid webpages for detailed instructions on both applications.
Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG)
CCOG is a program through the state of New Jersey that provides free tuition and approved educational fees for qualifying students. Students will be evaluated per state regulations to determine if they qualify. The amount of the CCOG award is applied after any state and/or federal grants. View CCOG eligibility requirements.
Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Grant
This is one of the nation's most comprehensive and successful state-supported efforts to provide access to higher education for students who lack the economic resources and academic preparation to attend college. Qualified students receive support services that include counseling, tutoring and academic advisement. A summer program is held annually for incoming EOF students and is designed to prepare them for the challenges of college life.
Eligibility: Review the EOF Application page.
Apply: Students must apply for this program through the EOF Office.
Loans
Loans are a form of financial aid that eventually must be repaid. Students can borrow loans through the federal government, state agencies or private lenders. Private financing options such as alternative loans are subject to credit checks and prior approval from lenders. Tools such as ELM SELECT are available to help student select the best possible alternative loan option.
Direct loans are borrowed by the student and therefore are taken out in the student's name. There are two types of Direct loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. Direct subsidized loans do not charge the student interest when enrolled at least halftime (6 credits) and during periods of deferment. Direct unsubsidized loans charge the student interest during all periods, including when they are enrolled and periods of deferment.
- Eligibility: All students may apply for a Direct loan; subsidized loans are based on financial need. Aggregate loan limits apply.
- Annual limits: Loan limits are determined by dependency status and grade level.
- Dependent, First-Year Students: $5,500 ($3,500 may be subsidized).
- Dependent, Second-Year Students: $6,500 ($4,500 may be subsidized).
- Independent, First-Year Students: $9,500 ($3,500 may be subsidized).
- Independent, Second-Year Students: $10,500 ($4,500 may be subsidized).
- Apply: Complete the FAFSA. Visit the Federal Aid webpage for step-by-step instructions and helpful hints when navigating this process.
- Additional requirements: The student borrowing the loan must complete Entrance Counseling for Rowan College, sign a Master Promissory Note, and complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement at studentaid.gov.
- Repayment: Students will enter repayment on their loans in one of three ways.
- Six months after they graduate with their degree.
- Six months after they stop attending classes.
- If they fall below halftime enrollment (less than 6 credits).
Learn more about the Direct loan program, including current interest rates, via the U.S. Department of Education.
Parents can borrow loans on behalf of the student, however, they are subject to a credit check and prior approval. Interest is charged during all periods over the life of the loan.
- Eligibility: Parent borrowers must not have adverse credit history and the student must be enrolled at least halftime (6 credits).
- Annual limits: The maximum PLUS loan amount a parent can borrow is the cost of attendance (determined by the school) minus any other financial assistance received by the student.
- Apply: Visit studentaid.gov; select "Parent Borrowers" and then "Apply for PLUS Loan."
- Additional requirements: The parent borrowing the loan must complete entrance counseling for RCSJ and sign the master promissory note at studentaid.gov.
- Repayment: If you are a parent borrower, you'll generally be expected to start making payments on your Direct PLUS loan once the loan is fully disbursed (paid out). However, you may request a deferment while your child is enrolled at least halftime and for an additional six months after your child graduates, leaves school or drops below half-time enrollment.
Learn more about the Parent PLUS loan program, including current interest rates, via the U.S. Department of Education.
If you are interested in applying for Alternative Loans you can review your options online at ELMSelect.
The RCSJ Office of Financial Aid will process alternative loans to a student's account. To do so, the college must have a valid FAFSA on file for the student. The Office of Financial Aid will not package alternative loans or forms of aid to a student's account without a FAFSA.
Students must complete the loan application according to the private lender's guidelines. It's important to review the interest rates, terms of the loan and repayment requirements before borrowing an alternative loan.
Note: The Office of Financial Aid considers the NJ CLASS loan offered through the State of New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) as an alternative loan program.
Additional Types of Aid
NJ STARS award covers the cost of tuition, less any state and/or federal grants and scholarships, for up to five semesters. The award covers these charges for up to 18 credit hours per semester. Funding for NJ STARS awards is dependent upon annual state appropriations. Visit the NJSTARS page for more information on the the program.
Scholarships are also a form of gift aid, however this type differs from grants. Scholarships may be offered by private institutions and often entail a separate application process. Applicants must meet certain criteria specified by the scholarship program, and these awards are based on merit. Review the RCSJ Scholarships page.
The Federal Work Study (FWS) program provides part-time employment opportunities for students who demonstrate financial need. FWS employees receive a paycheck for the hours they work; the funds will not be applied toward students' tuition bills. Approved FWS funding appears on a student's Portal under the "Financial Aid Award" section. This notification is an estimated total of his or her earning eligibility. This amount represents the maximum wages students can earn for that academic year. However, this award is not a guarantee of how much students can earn; they will be paid only for the hours they work.
Tuition Waivers & Credits
A tuition waiver is a form of financial assistance that reduces or eliminates college tuition costs for eligible students.
National Guard Waiver covers only the per-credit cost of tuition at Rowan College; students are personally responsible for the payment of all other fees associated with the cost of registering at the College. (These fees include, but are not limited to, an admissions application fee, lab fees associated with each course, books and related materials.)
How to Apply:
Qualifying students must adhere to the following terms:
- Recipients of this credit must register for classes during Late Registration.
- Complete the FAFSA, and if selected, Verification. Failure to do so will result in the student forfeiting their right to utilize the National Guard Tuition Waiver and the student being held personally responsible for the total cost of tuition and all fees.
- Comply with all requests for additional documentation from the Office of Financial Aid.
- Obtain a Commander's Certificate. The signatures from the Commanding Officer cannot be dated more than thirty (30) days before submitting the Commander's Certificate.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress as set by Rowan College's policy.
- Certify that they are not in default or overpayment status on any federal grants or loans.
- Be accepted and matriculated into a degree-seeking program of study at the College.
- If the student is unable to attend, the student must drop their courses. The student should not assume that they will be dropped for non-payment should they stop attending.
If a student doesn't comply with all of the above requirements, they will be considered ineligible for the program.
Note: Interested students will not be refunded any money paid for courses in advance. The National Guard Tuition Waiver program will not refund the expenses that a student has paid out of pocket for tuition or tuition-related needs.
Unemployment Waivers is a program available for displaced workers. The Unemployment Tuition Waiver only covers the amount of the per-credit cost of tuition at Rowan College and the related general service fees. Students electing this program must understand that they are responsible for the payment of all other fees associated with the cost of registering for courses at Rowan College.
The New Jersey Unemployment Tuition Waiver is a program available for displaced workers. The Unemployment Tuition Waiver only covers the cost-per-credit of tuition at Rowan College of South Jersey and the related general service fees. Students electing this program must understand that they are responsible for payment of all other fees associated with the cost of registering for courses at Rowan College of South Jersey.
The program will be honored at Rowan College of South Jersey by applicants who reside in Cumberland or Gloucester Counties. Out-of-County students are required to apply to their home county college and provide proof of their application to their home county school before having the Free Tuition Waiver applied to their account.
How to Apply:
Qualifying students must adhere to the following terms:
- Obtain the Tuition Free Waiver form NJES8 (R1/01) from their Career Counselor at the Unemployment Office.
- The NJES8 must have the term for which it is intended noted on the form by the One-Stop Career Counselor.
- The courses approved by the career counselor must be listed on the back of the Tuition Free Waiver form NJES8.
- If approved classes are not listed on the form, the student should return to the One-Stop Career Center and meet with their career counselor for approval or the course fees will not be waived.
- Complete the , and if selected, Verification.
- Failure to do so will result in the student being ineligible for the Unemployment Tuition Waiver.
- Students must certify they are not in default or overpayment status on any federal grants or loans.
- Comply with all requests for any required additional documentation from the Office of Financial Aid.
- Have their Unemployment Tuition Waiver Application approved by the Office of Financial Aid before enrolling in courses.
- Cannot enroll for courses under the Unemployment Free Tuition Waiver until the dates specified by the Office of Financial Aid. These dates vary from term to term, but are generally the day each specific course is scheduled to begin.
- Certify that they are taking courses that are specified on their NJES8 Unemployment Tuition Waiver form.
Students interested in this program understand they cannot pay to reserve a seat in a course. Furthermore, students will not be refunded any money paid for courses in advance. The Unemployment Tuition Waiver programs will not refund the expenses that a student has paid out of pocket for tuition or tuition-related needs.
Academic Progress
If using the Unemployment Tuition Waiver, and a student cannot attend the semester for whatever reason, he/she must drop all of his/her classes. Students must not assume that they will be dropped for non-payment should they stop attending.
If a student needs to withdraw from a course, he/she must complete the proper withdrawal forms with the Department of Student Records.
The student who withdraws from courses and is eligible for the Unemployment Tuition Waiver will have the waiver applied to the allowable tuition and general service fees. The student will still be responsible for any portion of his/her bill that is not covered by the Unemployment Tuition Waiver program.
Veterans Benefits Veterans who need information regarding their Montgomery GI Bill Benefits need to log on to the VA website and follow the prompts to Education Benefits. This website will provide Chapters 30, 33, 35, 1606 and 1607 eligibility requirements.
Volunteer firefighters and rescue workers may be eligible for a $300 tuition credit each semester. This credit is capped at $600 per academic year, and the maximum total is $2,400. To provide this credit, the College's Office of Financial Aid requires a letter from the volunteer's fire company or municipality stating that they are a member in good standing. This credit applies to the volunteer or their dependents. Recipients of this credit must register for classes during Late Registration. Contact the Business Office at 856-468-5000, ext. 2226 or [email protected] for more information.
Senior Citizens with a Gloucester County Department of Aging Golden Certificate Pass* are eligible for reduced tuition rates for-credit courses as long as they meet the College's entrance requirements; space is available in course sections, and there is no additional cost to the College as a result of the reduced rate. To qualify, you must live in Gloucester or Cumberland County and be over the age of 60 with a valid NJ Drivers License (or valid ID) as proof of age. Once proof of age is provided, you'll be eligible for free tuition. You will be responsible for fees associated with courses along with books and supplies.
Begin your path to free tuition
- Complete an RCSJ Application
- Bring a valid ID to the Gloucester Campus Office of Student Records to validate your age
- Speak with an Academic Advisor
Giving back to local business and those who serve our communities is a foundational pillar of a community college. In that spirit, the Community & Commerce Education Partnership offers a 33% tuition and per-credit fee discount (in the Fall & Spring Semesters) to partnership participants and their employees. Visit the CCEP page to learn more about the program.
For More Information
Contact
Financial Aid
856-415-2210 (phone & text)
[email protected]