TRENTON, NJ – Governor Christie has approved the action of the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) Board adopting the academic year 2013-2014 award tables for students receiving the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) and the Part-Time Tuition Aid Grants for County Colleges. TAG awards are need-based financial aid that help Garden State residents attend college in New Jersey.
"The affordability of higher education has been a top priority of my administration," said Governor Christie. "TAG awards are instrumental in making higher education possible for thousands of students who qualify for these grants each year."
The award tables distribute $341 million in TAG funds and $11.2 million in Part-Time TAG monies. This represents a $16.1 million increase or 5% over Fiscal Year 2013 for the TAG program and an $876,000 or 8.5% increase for the Part-Time TAG for County Colleges program.
Maximum TAG awards have increased over academic year 2012-2013 as demonstrated below:
| Sector |
AY 12-13 Maximum |
AY 13-14 Maximum |
| County College |
$2,534 |
$2,578 |
| State College |
$6,704 |
$6,822 |
| Public Research |
$10,318 |
$10,562 |
| Non-Public |
$11,550 |
$11,958 |
Maximum Part-Time TAG for County Colleges awards have also increased over academic year 2012-2013 as demonstrated below:
| Attendance |
AY 12-13 Maximum |
AY 13-14 Maximum |
| Half-time |
$633 |
$644 |
| Three-quarter time |
$950 |
$966 |
"Each year the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP) ranks the TAG program in the top echelon of need-based programs in the nation for its very generous award structure," said Gabrielle Charette, Executive Director. "These award levels will certainly keep New Jersey in this national top tier," added Charette.
To be considered for TAG funding, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and answer four New Jersey specific questions. TAG awards can only be used to attend college in the State of New Jersey at one of the 57 colleges or universities approved to participate in the TAG program. Each year, over 70,000 students receive a TAG award and another 11,000 students receive a Part-Time TAG award.
Students and families interested in learning more about TAG or how to complete the FAFSA should go to www.hesaa.org.
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