TESU joins Garden State Guarantee

[jch]

Just found this:

Garden State Guarantee
Thomas Edison State University is pleased to announce our participation in the Garden State Guarantee starting in the Fall of 2022.

All full time New Jersey resident students or New Jersey Dreamers with the following criteria will have no tuition costs.

• Full time enrollment in the following terms: 
  • 12 week terms - September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April or May (June, July and August excluded)
    
  • 16 week terms – July and November (March term is excluded)
    
• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) between $0 and $65,000
  
• Must be in third or fourth year at start of term (definition of 3rd year is at least 60 credits towards their first Bachelor’s degree; and 4th year is at least 90 credits towards their degree)
  
• Must not have already received four Garden State Guarantee Scholarships
  

The Garden State Guarantee scholarship will be applied to student accounts after any federal or state grants, or other scholarships. Students must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress for eligibility for Financial Aid.
Students with an AGI between $65,001 and $80,000 and meet the other criteria noted above will have a maximum out of pocket cost of $2,000 per term after federal and state grants are applied.
Students must complete the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the New Jersey alternate financial aid application by April 15, 2022.
What is the Garden State Guarantee?
The Garden State Guarantee (GSG) is New Jersey’s promise to make a college degree more accessible and affordable. By reducing out-of-pocket costs for students and families, New Jersey is limiting the amount of debt that residents must borrow to attend an in-state, public college or university. This program further builds on Governor Phil Murphy’s commitment to improving college affordability.
Who is Eligible?
New Jersey residents who attend an in-state, public, four-year institution and have an annual adjusted gross income (AGI) between $0 and $65,000 will pay a net price of $0 for tuition and fees during their third and fourth years of study. Students who have AGIs between $65,001 and $80,000 will pay a discounted net price of no more than $7,500 for tuition and fees. GSG covers the cost of tuition and fees that are not already covered by federal and state financial aid or other scholarships. Students must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credits per semester) and must be working toward completing their first Bachelor’s degree.
How to Apply
You will automatically be considered for the GSG when you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if you qualify as a NJ Dreamer, the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application. The deadline* to apply for Academic Year 2022-23 is April 15, 2022.


Do I qualify for this program if I am a first- or second-year student?
GSG funding is available only to third- and fourth-year students at in-state, public, four-year institutions. First- and second-year students who attend a New Jersey community college with an AGI between $0 and $65,000 may be eligible for the Community College Opportunity Grant. Together, these complementary programs create a tuition- and fee-free pathway to a Bachelor’s degree.

TOP

For how long am I eligible for GSG?
Students who satisfy all eligibility criteria may receive GSG up to the overall cap of four (4) semesters.

TOP

How do I determine my AGI?
For dependent students, only parent(s’)/guardian(s’) AGIs are considered, not the student’s income. For independent students, the AGI of the student and spouse, if applicable, is considered.

TOP

How many credits must I earn to be considered a third- or fourth-year student?
Third-year students are defined as having earned 60-89 total accumulated credits, and fourth-year students are defined as having earned 90-126 total accumulated credits, regardless of the institution(s) at which the qualifying credits were earned (i.e.: accepted transfer credits from another institution of higher education, Advanced Placement courses, dual-enrollment programs, etc.)

TOP

Will this new program help me if I was never eligible for state aid before?
Yes. Expanding equitable and affordable college access to a high-quality degree in New Jersey is the GSG’s driving force. If you are not currently receiving state financial aid, apply before September 15, 2022.
*Note: If you currently receive financial aid, you must reapply and complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application by April 15, 2022.

TESU could suddenly be much more affordable for some people living in NJ. Just get at least 60 cheap/free credits via wherever, then TESU tuition is free or cheap.

[rachel83az]

Wow, yeah, just spend $100-200 on Sophia and then attend TESU for (almost) free!

[origamishuttle]

Wow, yeah, just spend $100-200 on Sophia and then attend TESU for (almost) free!

In fact, it can be completely free via NJ community college:

Do I qualify for this program if I am a first- or second-year student?
GSG funding is available only to third- and fourth-year students at in-state, public, four-year institutions. First- and second-year students who attend a New Jersey community college with an AGI between $0 and $65,000 may be eligible for the Community College Opportunity Grant. Together, these complementary programs create a tuition- and fee-free pathway to a Bachelor’s degree.

Granted, it will take much longer, but it will also provide several options that are not readily available from alternative sources.

[davewill]

This is the way to do aid. I assume that state is only covering the costs above and beyond any Pell Grants or military benefits the student might have.

The next step is to short circuit the ridiculous cost of textbooks. Since these are public universities, the simplest approach is setting a dollar limit on the books a Prof is allowed to assign. The publishers will quickly make sure their books comply with the limits rather than sell no books at all.

[dfrecore]

This is the way to do aid. I assume that state is only covering the costs above and beyond any Pell Grants or military benefits the student might have.

The next step is to short circuit the ridiculous cost of textbooks. Since these are public universities, the simplest approach is setting a dollar limit on the books a Prof is allowed to assign. The publishers will quickly make sure their books comply with the limits rather than sell no books at all.

These are always last-dollar programs - Pell grants come first, any other aid you might get, and then this.  It's why you have to fill out the FAFSA no matter what (even most scholarships require that you fill out the FAFSA).

I agree about textbook costs.  They can be insane, and for no reason.  I don't think professors/schools should be changing textbooks very regularly at all.  Most things don't change from one semester to the next.  An update every 5 years seems reasonable for something timely, but for something like Calculus, you really wouldn't need a new book but every 10 years or even less.

[LevelUP]

This is the way to do aid. I assume that state is only covering the costs above and beyond any Pell Grants or military benefits the student might have.

The next step is to short circuit the ridiculous cost of textbooks. Since these are public universities, the simplest approach is setting a dollar limit on the books a Prof is allowed to assign. The publishers will quickly make sure their books comply with the limits rather than sell no books at all.

Textbook cost isn't that bad at TESU since they don't switch textbooks all too often. 

I paid only $15 for my business capstone textbook. Was no textbook required for PLA-100, or the Intro to Critical Reasoning course. Often times you can rent a textbook for $25 or less or buy a used one.

The free courses will be good for people that are starting out that have no RA credits. Be a free degree for New Jersey residents.

[bjcheung77]

Wow, this is a great option for those who are in NJ! TESU just shot up a notch as an option for those in the state...

[Blckbuster]

Just found this:

Garden State Guarantee
Thomas Edison State University is pleased to announce our participation in the Garden State Guarantee starting in the Fall of 2022.

All full time New Jersey resident students or New Jersey Dreamers with the following criteria will have no tuition costs.

• Full time enrollment in the following terms: 
  • 12 week terms - September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April or May (June, July and August excluded)
    
  • 16 week terms – July and November (March term is excluded)
    
• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) between $0 and $65,000
  
• Must be in third or fourth year at start of term (definition of 3rd year is at least 60 credits towards their first Bachelor’s degree; and 4th year is at least 90 credits towards their degree)
  
• Must not have already received four Garden State Guarantee Scholarships
  

The Garden State Guarantee scholarship will be applied to student accounts after any federal or state grants, or other scholarships. Students must demonstrate Satisfactory Academic Progress for eligibility for Financial Aid.
Students with an AGI between $65,001 and $80,000 and meet the other criteria noted above will have a maximum out of pocket cost of $2,000 per term after federal and state grants are applied.
Students must complete the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the New Jersey alternate financial aid application by April 15, 2022.
What is the Garden State Guarantee?
The Garden State Guarantee (GSG) is New Jersey’s promise to make a college degree more accessible and affordable. By reducing out-of-pocket costs for students and families, New Jersey is limiting the amount of debt that residents must borrow to attend an in-state, public college or university. This program further builds on Governor Phil Murphy’s commitment to improving college affordability.
Who is Eligible?
New Jersey residents who attend an in-state, public, four-year institution and have an annual adjusted gross income (AGI) between $0 and $65,000 will pay a net price of $0 for tuition and fees during their third and fourth years of study. Students who have AGIs between $65,001 and $80,000 will pay a discounted net price of no more than $7,500 for tuition and fees. GSG covers the cost of tuition and fees that are not already covered by federal and state financial aid or other scholarships. Students must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credits per semester) and must be working toward completing their first Bachelor’s degree.
How to Apply
You will automatically be considered for the GSG when you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, if you qualify as a NJ Dreamer, the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application. The deadline* to apply for Academic Year 2022-23 is April 15, 2022.


Do I qualify for this program if I am a first- or second-year student?
GSG funding is available only to third- and fourth-year students at in-state, public, four-year institutions. First- and second-year students who attend a New Jersey community college with an AGI between $0 and $65,000 may be eligible for the Community College Opportunity Grant. Together, these complementary programs create a tuition- and fee-free pathway to a Bachelor’s degree.

TOP

For how long am I eligible for GSG?
Students who satisfy all eligibility criteria may receive GSG up to the overall cap of four (4) semesters.

TOP

How do I determine my AGI?
For dependent students, only parent(s’)/guardian(s’) AGIs are considered, not the student’s income. For independent students, the AGI of the student and spouse, if applicable, is considered.

TOP

How many credits must I earn to be considered a third- or fourth-year student?
Third-year students are defined as having earned 60-89 total accumulated credits, and fourth-year students are defined as having earned 90-126 total accumulated credits, regardless of the institution(s) at which the qualifying credits were earned (i.e.: accepted transfer credits from another institution of higher education, Advanced Placement courses, dual-enrollment programs, etc.)

TOP

Will this new program help me if I was never eligible for state aid before?
Yes. Expanding equitable and affordable college access to a high-quality degree in New Jersey is the GSG’s driving force. If you are not currently receiving state financial aid, apply before September 15, 2022.
*Note: If you currently receive financial aid, you must reapply and complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application by April 15, 2022.

TESU could suddenly be much more affordable for some people living in NJ. Just get at least 60 cheap/free credits via wherever, then TESU tuition is free or cheap.

This is fantastic, I just wish I knew before the April 15th deadline to apply, maybe there is still a way to be considered for it, I have 2 capstones, psych and a random UL computer sci course left I would take there.