Garden State Guarantee

GSG Stockton

What is the Garden State Guarantee?

The Garden State Guarantee (GSG) is a last-dollar1 program created to assist New Jersey residents in affording the cost of their education. The GSG is comprised of three tiers to assist students in affording the cost of their education.

  • Tier 1: The GSG guarantees that the net price of tuition and fees shall be $0 for students meeting eligibility criteria with an AGI of $0 to $65,000 in the students’ third and fourth years of study toward a bachelor’s degree.
  • Tier 2: The GSG guarantees that the net price of tuition and fees shall be no more than $7,500 for the year ($3,750 per semester) for students meeting eligibility criteria with an AGI of $65,001 to $80,000 in the students' third and fourth years of study towards a bachelors degree.
  • Tier 3: The GSG guarantees that the net price of tuition and fees shall be no more than $10,000 for the year ($5,000 per semester) for students meeting eligibility criteria with an AGI of $80,001 to $100,000 in the students' third and fourth years of study towards a bachelors degree.

How Does it Work?

The Garden State Guarantee provides three benefits to students.

Tier 1: For students who qualify for the $0 Net Price, the GSG covers the gap between all federal, state, institutional and private financial aid programs (grants & scholarships) and the cost of tuition and fees.

Tier 2: For students who qualify for the Net Price of no more than $7,500, the GSG ensures that students will not be charged more than $7,500 for tuition and fees.

Tier 3: For students who qualify for the Net Price of no more than $10,000, the GSG ensures that students will not be charged more than $10,000 for tuition and fees.


1 Last-Dollar: Remaining balance of tuition and fees charged to a student after the application of federal and State student assistance, existing institutional aid, and other outside scholarships. Last-dollar calculations do not include loans, family contributions, or Work-Study. Last-dollar calculations also do not include COVID-related student emergency grants funded with federal HEERF/CARES/CRRSA/ARPA funding, as the 2020 and 2021 federal laws authorizing these emergency grants specifically excluded them from the Higher Education Act definition of financial aid.


Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for a $0 Net Price of Tuition and Fees, students must:

  • Must be a New Jersey resident (this applies to parents of dependent students as well) +
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time (12 credits or more per semester) undergraduate student pursuing a first bachelors degree in the fall and/or spring terms
  • Must be enrolled during Year Three1 and/or Year Four2 of their bachelor’s degree programs
  • Must have an Adjusted Gross Incomes (AGI) are between $0 and $65,000 each year ++
    • Dependent Students: Parent(s) adjusted gross income (AGI) must be between $0 - $65,000 per year. (Student income, if any, will NOT be factored in to the (AGI)
    • Independent Students: Student and spouse (if applicable) adjusted gross income (AGI) must be between $0 - $65,000 per year

+All students and parents of dependent students must be New Jersey residents. NJ Alternative Application filers must be recognized New Jersey residents as defined by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).

++A negative AGI is not eligible for GSG funding. Only those who filed a tax return or will file a tax return, as indicated on their FAFSA, can be considered.

+++Foreign or Out of State Tax Returns submitted will not be considered for GSG. Parents and Students (if independent) must be able to provide proof of verifiable U.S. income to be considered.

1 “Year Three” student is defined as having 60-89 credits earned toward the student’s first bachelor’s degree. This includes credits a student earned at a different institution of higher education and/or while in high school (e.g. Advance Placement courses, dual-enrollment programs).

2 “Year Four” student is defined as having between 90 and 128 credits earned toward the student’s first bachelor’s
degree.

To be eligible for a Net Price of no more than $7,500 for Tuition and Fees, students must:

  • Must be a New Jersey resident (this applies to parents of dependent students as well) +
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time (12 credits or more per semester) undergraduate student pursuing a first bachelors degree in the fall and/or spring terms
  • Must be enrolled during Year Three1 and/or Year Four2 of their bachelor’s degree programs ++
  • Must have an Adjusted Gross Incomes (AGI) are between $65,001 and $80,000 each year
    • Dependent Students: Parent(s) adjusted gross income (AGI) must be between $65,001 and $80,000 per year. (Student income, if any, will NOT be factored in to the (AGI)
    • Independent Students: Student and spouse (if applicable) adjusted gross income (AGI) must be between $65,001 and $80,000 per year

+All students and parents of dependent students must be New Jersey residents. NJ Alternative Application filers must be recognized New Jersey residents as defined by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).

++A negative AGI is not eligible for GSG funding. Only those who filed a tax return or will file a tax return, as indicated on their FAFSA, can be considered.

+++Foreign or Out of State Tax Returns submitted will not be considered for GSG. Parents and Students (if independent) must be able to provide proof of verifiable U.S. income to be considered.

1 “Year Three” student is defined as having 60-89 credits earned toward the student’s first bachelor’s degree. This includes credits a student earned at a different institution of higher education and/or while in high school (e.g. Advance Placement courses, dual-enrollment programs).

2 “Year Four” student is defined as having between 90 and 128 credits earned toward the student’s first bachelor’s
degree.

To be eligible for a Net Price of no more than $10,000 for Tuition and Fees, students must:

  • Must be a New Jersey resident (this applies to parents of dependent students as well) +
  • Must be enrolled as a full-time (12 credits or more per semester) undergraduate student pursuing a first bachelors degree in the fall and/or spring terms
  • Must be enrolled during Year Three1 and/or Year Four2 of their bachelor’s degree programs ++
  • Must have an Adjusted Gross Incomes (AGI) are between $80,001 and $100,000 each year
    • Dependent Students: Parent(s) adjusted gross income (AGI) must be between $80,001 and $100,000 per year. (Student income, if any, will NOT be factored in to the (AGI)
    • Independent Students: Student and spouse (if applicable) adjusted gross income (AGI) must be between $80,001 and $100,000 per year

+All students and parents of dependent students must be New Jersey residents. NJ Alternative Application filers must be recognized New Jersey residents as defined by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA).

++A negative AGI is not eligible for GSG funding. Only those who filed a tax return or will file a tax return, as indicated on their FAFSA, can be considered.

+++Foreign or Out of State Tax Returns submitted will not be considered for GSG. Parents and Students (if independent) must be able to provide proof of verifiable U.S. income to be considered.

1 “Year Three” student is defined as having 60-89 credits earned toward the student’s first bachelor’s degree. This includes credits a student earned at a different institution of higher education and/or while in high school (e.g. Advance Placement courses, dual-enrollment programs).

2 “Year Four” student is defined as having between 90 and 128 credits earned toward the student’s first bachelor’s
degree.


How to Apply:

Complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or HESAA NJ Alternative Application (NJ Dreamer students only).

Students do not need to indicate interest in or submit a separate application for the Garden State Guarantee - all students meeting the eligibility requirements are automatically considered.


Did you know?

  • Our Foundation Scholarship program awards approximately 200 privately funded scholarships annually to qualified current Stockton students.
  • Stockton has a bill estimator tool that allows you to see how your personal bill might look, depending on how many credits you take, what housing option you choose, or what meal plan you pick.
  • First-year and transfer students who choose to attend Stockton University may be eligible to receive the Stockton Promise grant. Learn more at stockton.edu/promise.

Frequently Asked Questions:

For those that qualify for the Tuition and Fee Free Guarantee: The GSG funds will be added to qualifying students' financial aid offers beginning with the fall 2022 semester.

For those that qualify for the Sliding Scale: The discounted price (no more than $7,500 per semester) will take effect beginning with the fall 2022 semester.

Yes! Financial aid is deducted from your total tuition & fees bill as follows: 

For those that qualify for the Tuition and Fee Free Guarantee:

Total tuition & fees bill minus any federal/state grants you are eligible for minus any scholarship monies you have received (institutional and private) = tuition & fees balance that GSG grant will cover

IMPORTANT: GSG does NOT cover room & board (housing & meal plan) charges.

For those that qualify for Tier 2:

You will be charged no more than $7,500 per semester for tuition and fees. Any federal, state, institutional or private grants and scholarships will be used to cover this amount. Students can use loans or other resources to help cover any remaining balance after all financial aid has been applied.

For those that qualify for Tier 3:

You will be charged no more than $10,000 per semester for tuition and fees. Any federal, state, institutional or private grants and scholarships will be used to cover this amount. Students can use loans or other resources to help cover any remaining balance after all financial aid has been applied.

Eligible students will receive GSG funding to assist with the cost of tuition and fees up through 20 credits a semester. Students who choose to enroll in more than 20 credits a semester will not receive GSG funding for the tuition and fees associated with the additional credits.

For example: A student is eligible for GSG funding and is enrolled in 22 credits in one semester. The applicable GSG funding will be applied to their tuition and fees for the first 20 credits. The student will have to find alternative ways to pay the tuition and fees for the 2 additional credits.

Yes. Expanding equitable and affordable college access to a high-quality degree in New Jersey is the GSG’s driving force. If you are not currently receiving state financial aid, apply before September 15, 2022.

*Note: If you currently receive financial aid or have ever filed a FAFSA or an NJ Alternative Application, you must reapply and complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application by April 15 of each year.

GSG price guarantees will be available to students who maintain all GSG eligibility requirements for an aggregate total of four (4) semesters or until a student earns a bachelor’s degree or 128 credits (whichever comes first), regardless of the number of senior public institutions the student attends. Students are not eligible for GSG at more than one institution during the same semester. Students may receive GSG in either consecutive or non-consecutive semesters, up to the overall cap of four semesters of eligibility.

Third-year students are defined as having earned 60-89 total accumulated credits, and fourth-year students are defined as having earned 90-128 total accumulated credits, regardless of the institution(s) at which the qualifying credits were earned (i.e.: accepted transfer credits from another institution of higher education, Advanced Placement courses, dual-enrollment programs, etc.)

Returning learners are eligible for the Garden State Guarantee program’s net price guarantees, so long as the student meets the institution’s definition of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). For certain students who were not in SAP status when they stopped-out from college, continued eligibility for GSG will require the student meeting both the Qualitative and Quantitative Standards that the institution has established to comply with the federal SAP requirements. The Qualitative Standard is a Grade Point Average (GPA) requirement, while the Quantitative Standards are a completion rate requirement and a Maximum Time Frame (MTF) requirement.


GSG funding is available only to third- and fourth-year students at in-state, public, four-year institutions. First-year and transfer students who choose to attend Stockton University may be eligible to receive the Stockton Promise grant. Learn more at stockton.edu/promise.

There is no upper age cut-off for first-time student eligibility.

No, to be eligible for tuition- and fee-free and/or sliding scale net-price guarantees, students must complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Application by state deadlines.

All class formats are eligible for GSG, consistent with existing procedures for TAG eligibility.

GSG will be applied as a last-dollar award to the remaining balance of tuition and fees charged to a student after the application of federal and State student assistance, existing institutional aid, and other outside scholarships.

The GSG is available to eligible students for up to four (4) semesters during your third and fourth years of study (60-128 earned credits). As long as you continue to meet the above criteria, you will receive the GSG, even after you take a semester off.

Please Note: Although students can receive the GSG at multiple schools, the four (4) semester eligibility will carry over to each institution attended. Students are only eligible to receive the GSG for four (4) semesters in total, so all payments of the GSG at any school will be counted towards the semester cap.


Additional Frequently Asked Questions for Transfer Students:

Yes, a student who meets all other GSG eligibility requirements will qualify for GSG upon reaching the credit-based definitions of the student’s third or fourth year at a senior public institution, regardless of the institution(s) at which the student earned prior qualifying credits.

Yes, you can be eligible for the GSG if you have an Associate Degree as long as you meet all of the above criteria.

You must earn at least 128 college credits to complete a degree at Stockton. Students can transfer up to 64 credits from an accredited community/county college or up to 96 credits from an accredited four-year institution. Your transcript(s) will be evaluated according to the curriculum for your chosen major, and you will receive full credit for the equivalent Stockton courses, regardless of whether your previous institution(s) were on a three- or four-credit system. Full credit will be given at the same value as when you earned it (i.e. you will receive 3 Stockton credits for a 3-credit course completed at your previous institution). Once enrolled at Stockton, most of your courses will be 4 credits. It should take you no longer to earn a degree at Stockton than any other institution.


Glossary

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Determination: To be eligible for GSG, students must complete a FAFSA or the NJ Alternative Application for Financial Aid by applicable State deadlines. A student who qualifies for an AGI-based GSG guarantee in a given year will not necessarily be eligible in the following year, depending on information on the student’s financial aid application.


In-State Students: Students who are eligible for New Jersey in-State tuition at public institutions under State law. This includes NJ Dreamers eligible pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:62-4.4


Last-Dollar: Remaining balance of tuition and fees charged to a student after the application of federal and State student assistance, existing institutional aid, and other outside scholarships. Last-dollar calculations do not include loans, family contributions, or Work-Study. Last-dollar calculations also do not include COVID-related student emergency grants funded with federal HEERF/CARES/CRRSA/ARPA funding, as the 2020 and 2021 federal laws authorizing these emergency grants specifically excluded them from the Higher Education Act definition of financial aid.


Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): GSG eligibility is conditioned on students meeting the same definition of SAP that the institution established for State financial aid. Learn more about SAP at stockton.edu/sap.


Tuition and Fee Free Guarantee: Applicable to full-time, in-state undergraduate students with AGI between $0 and 65,000. The GSG covers the gap between all  federal, state and institutional financial aid programs (grants & scholarships) and the cost of tuition and fees for students who qualify.


Tuition and Fees: Published undergraduate tuition rate plus required fees. Fees does not include non-mandatory fees such as parking fees or specialty lab fees, specific course fees, etc.


Undergraduate: GSG applies only to students seeking a first bachelor’s degree. Students may have earned an Associate degree and still be eligible for GSG, however students who previously earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for GSG.