RU-N to the TOP

• HESAA Customer Care: 1-609-584-4480 or 1-800-792-8670 (English and Español)
• Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am to 8pm and Friday 8am to 5pm

Please take notice – the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application is a confidential application that is used solely by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to qualify students for state financial aid. It is not used for federal financial aid purposes. Information that is shared with HESAA via this application is used only by HESAA and partner colleges, universities, and other state agencies in order to administer grants and scholarships. HESAA will do everything within its authority and jurisdiction to protect the ongoing confidentiality of this information.

Award Type: First & Second Year Students.

• Credits of Eligibility: 0-59 credits. ALL earned credits are counted.

No. RU-N to the TOP is intended to assist students in earning their first bachelor’s degree

• If you are transferring into Rutgers-Newark with 0-59 credits, you may be eligible for RU-N to the TOP if you meet all eligibility criteria.
• If you are transferring into Rutgers-Newark with 60-128 credits, you may qualify for Garden State Guarantee.

• Recipients transferring to another undergraduate school within RU-N remain eligible to receive RU-N to the TOP.
• Students transferring to an undergraduate program elsewhere within Rutgers universities or academic schools, including Camden, New Brunswick, School of Nursing, or RBHS, are no longer eligible to receive RU-N to the TOP, but may be eligible for other campus based scholarships. 
• Students matriculating in a graduate program anywhere at Rutgers (including RU-N) are no longer eligible to receive RU-N to the TOP.

• Students who are residents of Newark, Irvington, Orange & East Orange with 0-59 credits will be eligible for no more than six (6) credits of funding for summer and winter courses.

• The RU-N to the TOP award will be adjusted according to the university's official refund schedule.
• Details on the university’s refund schedule is available at Student Accounting website.

• If you continue to meet the eligibility of the RU-N to the TOP program, funds can be renewed upon re-enrollment.

• There is no separate application required. Students are reviewed for the RU-N to the TOP award at the time of admittance to the university.
• Newly admitted students for fall 2022 and beyond will automatically be considered with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) or the NJ Alternative Application, in the case of NJ Dreamers.
• Students will need to complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application each year by the published state deadline.
• Renewed eligibility for the RUN to the TOP scholarship will be evaluated based on AGI responses every year based on the completion of the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application.

• No. Students must have been admitted in the fall of 2022 or after to be considered for the expanded RU-N to the TOP.
• The Office of Financial aid can assist students and families to understand what aid may be available.

Newark, Irvington, East Orange and Orange residency is determined by the permanent home address submitted on the student’s Admissions application and then confirmed by cross checking against their high school records.

• Newark, Irvington, East Orange, or Orange residency is determined at the time a student submits their Admissions application.
• Students moving to the Cities of Newark, Irvington, East Orange or Orange between the time of their application and the first day of the semester may submit a letter of appeal to the Office of Admissions via email at: newark@admissions.rutgers.edu

• As part of the admissions process, students must submit all final and official transcripts.
• There is no separate application required. Students are reviewed for the RU-N to the TOP award at the time of admittance to the university.
• If you are a full-time transfer student transferring into RU-N with more 60-128, you will also be reviewed for the Garden State Guarantee Program

Yes. It is only prior matriculation at Rutgers-Newark, Camden, New Brunswick, & RBHS that disqualifies you from RU-N to the TOP.

Yes, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) or the NJ Alternative Application, in the cases of NJ Dreamers and meet the annual state deadlines. Students not meeting the state deadlines may lose eligibility for the program.

In-state tuition and mandatory fees based on qualifying AGI Tier. Mandatory fees for RU-N to the TOP include that include student fee, school fee, and technology fee.

Optional and variable fees such as the NJ PIRG, Student Health Insurance, housing, dining, out-of-state tuition, specific program fees, offsite instructional support fee, new student fee, digital book fees, attendance clickers, the advanced book voucher, course fees, and summer/winter session tuition or fees,  late fees, parking charges, library fees, as well as miscellaneous fees. 

No. A student who is in default will not qualify for RU-N to the TOP. 

• Students must complete the FAFSA or NJ Alterative Application by all published state deadlines
• Students must complete their financial aid file by all published state deadlines.
• Student must register for the appropriate credit load based on their eligibility. 
• Student must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy 

• Yes, first and second-year students (0-59 credits) must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits) to qualify.

*It is recommended to take 15 credits per semester (30 credits per academic year) to be on target to graduate within 4 years. 

No, Part-time enrollment is not eligible.

No.  You may qualify for Garden State Guarantee.

No. Eligibility is determined at the point of matriculation.

Yes. You will need to meet the criteria of the program as outlined above.

Yes. Only prior matriculation at RU-N disqualifies you from receiving the RU-N to the TOP scholarship.

No, you would not be eligible for RU-N to the TOP as Rutgers-Newark follows the guidelines laid out by New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority’s (HESAA) for families and/or individuals with negative Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).