​Students can apply for additional aid through the State of New Jersey's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). Follow these steps to do so.

Step 1 – Complete the FAFSA

All students must first complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov​ in order to establish their initial eligibility and Expected Family Contribution (EFC) before applying for state aid or being packaged for a private scholarship.

View the Federal Aid webpage for comprehensive instructions.

Step 2 – Complete the State Application

Students can complete the state aid application one of two ways:

1. After completing the FAFSA, students can click the "Start Your State Application" link on the confirmation page. The process must be completed by using the "Report Additional Information" link on the HESAA website.
   

   OR

2. Visit hesaa.org and click "Apply." You will be prompted to create a username and password before you can complete the application. When you log in, select "Answer New Jersey State Grant Questions."​

Step 3 – Submit Requested Documents to State

Students should comply with all requests they receive via email or postal mail from HESAA. All requested documents must be submitted before the HESAA deadlines for consideration by any state aid program, including:

• Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)

• Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)

• New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS)

The state sends "Applicant Information Requests," which ask for additional documents from the student and/or parent, and "Student Eligibility Notices," which give estimates of how much the proposed award amount will be.

Any documents requested by HESAA must be returned directly to the state, and not to the institution. The state's verification process is separate from the institution's federal verification process. Send all documents, as per your Applicant Information Request, to the address listed below: 

NJ Grants & Scholarships
HESAA Grants & Scholarships
PO Box 540
Trenton, NJ 08625-0540

The state/HESAA's verification process must be completed first before any state aid can be applied to the student's account.

Step 4 – Track Progress

1. Check your Rowan College student email and Portal account for additional requests from the Office of Financial Aid. Federal verification, if selected, must be completed first by the institution.

2. Check the email account used on your HESAA application to monitor progress. Comply with all Applicant Information Requests by HESAA. State verification must be completed by HESAA, if selected, and this is separate from federal verification.

3. Financial aid will not be awarded to your account until both verification processes are complete. Check your student Portal frequently to track your progress and see when the award(s) you qualify for are posted.