I hope they can afford this program
College of New Jersey to help low-income students pay school costs
April 13, 2004, 3:49 AM EDT
EWING, N.J. -- The College of New Jersey will provide financial awards to needy students to help them pay expenses not covered by the state and federal financial aid they receive.
College officials said the Equal Opportunity Fund Promise Award program, modeled after similar programs at schools across the nation, gives them an opportunity to recruit desirable applicants from low-income families in New Jersey. The annual cost of attending the Ewing-based school _ including tuition, room, board, books and other expenses _ is about $15,945, and about 80 to 110 incoming freshmen are expected to participate in the EOF program this fall.
"As we started to look at what other colleges are doing throughout the country, it was clear that institutions have found the means to fulfill their commitment to students in similar programs where the financial need exceeds the financial aid available," school President R. Barbara Gitenstein said Monday.
Students must be part of the state's EOF program for disadvantaged students to qualify for the award, and their total family income must meet limits determined by the number of peopler in the their household. For example, a family of four could not make more than $36,800 for the student to qualify.
In the first two years, the extra money will come as a grant, which would not have to be repaid, while part of the award may come as low-interest loans in their junior and senior years.
Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press
