RU-N to the TOP

• HESAA website and resources
• Resource Guide (PDF) 
• Log in to complete the NJ Alterative Financial Aid Application

The New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application is ONLY for undocumented/DACA students. U.S. Citizens and U.S. permanent residents must complete the FAFSA.  Students can access and complete the New Jersey Alternative Application Financial Aid Application located on the HESAA website. website.

A student must meet ALL of these requirements for New Jersey state aid consideration:

1. Attended a New Jersey high school for at least three (3) years and
2. Graduated from a New Jersey high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in New Jersey and
3. Registered for Selective Service (male students only) and
4. Demonstrate financial need and
5. Be a resident of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to enrollment and
6. Be a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in an approved degree or certificate program
7. Complete The Rutgers University Tuition Equality Act Application and Affidavit (Rutgers requirement only)

• The NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application must be received by NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJ HESAA) by the established deadlines to be considered for state grants and scholarship.
• Proof of income may be required to validate your award.
• After application submission, NJ HESAA will contact you via your NJ FAMS account with any updates or requests for additional documentation.
• Create a NJFAMS account online.

• 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-Year Student.

• Semesters of Eligibility: 10 semesters or up to 120 credits, whichever comes first. ALL semesters of enrollment are counted toward the 10 semesters.

Award Type: Transfer Students

• Semesters of Eligibility: 4 semesters or up to 120 credits, whichever comes first. ALL semesters of enrollment are counted toward the 4 semesters.

If a health or family emergency, or similar good reason, prevents you from completing your degree within your award time limit. Please see appeal process for details.

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

It is impossible to list all cases, which is why the determination ultimately is left to the RU-N to the TOP Committee. The reasons for granting an extension are primarily those that reflect a student’s effort to persist through adversity. These may include gaps in pre-college preparation, the need to work full-time and/or support a family, ill health, or similar unexpected or extenuating circumstances.

• If you are transferring into Rutgers-Newark with 0-59 credits, you will have 10 semesters or up to 120 credits, whichever comes first.
• If you are transferring into Rutgers-Newark with 60 credits or more, you will have 4 semesters or up 120 credits, whichever comes first.

• Recipients transferring to another undergraduate school at RU-N remain eligible to receive RU-N to the TOP.
• Students transferring to an undergraduate program elsewhere within other 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. 
• Students matriculating in a graduate program anywhere at Rutgers (including RU-N) are no longer eligible to receive RU-N to the TOP.

• Generally, you may not use RU-N to the TOP for summer or winter session courses, though exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Director of RU-N Office of Financial Aid. When such exceptions are made, the summer or winter session for which RU-N to the TOP is used shall count as one of the four (4) or ten (10) semesters of eligibility.
• 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.

• A student may take a semester off, but will need to appeal to evaluate if their RU-N to the TOP award can be reinstated. 
• The appeal application is available at this link: RUN to the TOP Appeal.
• Students are required to meet all renewing conditions to have their RU-N to the TOP award reinstated.

• 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 cases of NJ Dreamers.
• Students who are unable to complete the required financial aid form due to ineligibility will need to complete a paper FAFSA and submit supporting income document to validate their AGI.
• Students will need to complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application each year by the published state dealine.
• 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.
• Students must meet the state deadlines for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or on the HESAA NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application (for NJ Dreamers).

• No. Students must have been admitted in the fall of 2022 or after to be considered for the expanded RU-N to the TOP.
• Students who were admitted to the University between Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semester and deemed eligible for the TOP Scholarship will be evaluated and renewed based on the governing rules established prior to the fall 2022 program expansion. 
• Student admitted prior to Fall 2016 are not eligible for RUN 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

• 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 credits or more, you will also be reviewed for the Garden State Guarantee Program
• As part of the admissions process, students must submit their final and official transcripts to the Office of Admissions by the first day of classes in the semester RU-N to the TOP is offered. 

No. RU-N to the TOP is provided to transfer students who are transferring into Rutgers University-Newark with 60 or more credits.

No. Students are reviewed for the RU-N to the TOP award at the time of admittance to the university.

Yes. It is only prior matriculation at Rutgers-Newark that disqualifies you from RU-N to the TOP.

Yes, students must  completion 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 all mandatory fees. 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, individual course fees and summer session fee are not covered 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. 
• Residents of the Cities of Newark, Orange, East Orange and Irvington and Transfers may elect to be part-time (6-11 credits).   All other students must be enrolled full-time (12 credits or more) 
• Student must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy 
• Students must continue to meet the qualifying AGIs (see AGI table) based on their renewed FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application  

• First and second-year students NOT from the Cities of Newark, Irvington, Orange & East Orange must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits) to qualify.
• Residents of Newark, Irvington, Orange & East Orange my elect to be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits) or part-time (at least 6-11 credits). However, all periods of enrollment are counted towards the ten (10) semesters of eligibility.  Students who are enrolled part-time may lose their scholarship eligibility before achieving their 120 credits.
• The transfer students admitted with at least 60 credits may elect to be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits) or part-time (at least 6-11 credits). However, all periods of enrollment are counted towards the four (4) semesters of eligibility.  Students who are enrolled part-time may lost their scholarship eligibility before achieving their 120 credits. 

• Part-time enrollment (6 -11 credits) counts as full semesters towards the award and towards the maximum eligibility. 
• The program covers part-time transfer students and residents of Newark, Orange, East Orange and Irvington.
• Please see limitation for details on award maximums. 

Yes, if you are otherwise eligible and are matriculated at a Rutgers University–Newark school.

No. Eligibility is determined at the point of matriculation.

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

Yes. You would have been admitted, enrolled and matriculated into Rutgers Univeristy-Newark with 60 credits or more (i.e.: accepted transfer credits from another institution of higher education, Advanced Placement courses, dual-enrollment programs, etc.)

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

• No. Students must have been admitted for fall of 2022 or after to be considered for the expanded RU-N to the TOP.
• Students who were admitted to the University before fall 2022 semester and deemed eligible for the TOP Scholarship will be evaluated and renewed based on the governing rules established prior to the fall 2022 program expansion. 

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).