| TRENTON, N.J. – The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) encourages all New Jersey students to apply now to receive financial aid for Academic Year 2019-2020. Both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application launched today, Monday, October 1. Students who are planning on attending college in the fall of 2019 can begin the financial aid process by completing the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA is a federal form and is shared with the student’s home state for consideration of any need-based or merit-based state aid. To apply for state aid, New Jersey students must also complete the State Questions at the end of the application. The completion of the FAFSA requires either a Social Security Number or an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). New Jersey students who meet the New Jersey Dreamer eligibility requirements, including those without a Social Security number, may complete the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application. For details about eligibility and to apply online, NJ Dreamers should visit https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/NJAlternativeApplication.aspx. HESAA offers resources to help New Jersey’s students and families pay for postsecondary education, including comprehensive information on the HESAA website at www.hesaa.org. HESAA encourages all students to complete an application to learn about all the types of financial aid for which they might qualify. For additional help in completing the FAFSA or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application, students and families can also contact their high school counselor or college financial aid office. | 
