Here are some tips to remember when filling out your 2025-26 FAFSA:

• You should access the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
  – Be sure to use the 2025-26 form.
• If you find yourself unable to continue with completing the online FAFSA due to extenuating circumstances or missing required information, please contact the Caldwell University Financial Aid Office at [email protected] or 973-618- 3221. You may be required to complete a paper version of the FAFSA.
  – While the FAFSA offers a federal processor’s Customer Help Line, we have been advised that they are only directing filers to send questions via email.
  – The Caldwell University Financial Aid Office will have extended hours until 6:00 p.m. ET on Mondays and Tuesdays weekly.
• Be sure to work on the FAFSA together with your parent(s).
• Follow the instructions on the form carefully, and one at a time. There are information icons at the end of the questions for your reference.
• Be sure to use the income figures for the parent who claims you on their taxes.
• In order to apply for federal aid (Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, work study, and all federal direct loans AND Caldwell University funds), both you and your parents must:
  – Approve the transfer of the income figures from the 2024 federal tax forms of both the student and the parent(s)

• Before you file, be sure to add Caldwell University’s federal school code to your form, which is 002598.
• Once we receive the processed results from your FAFSA, you should expect to receive
• your Financial Aid Notice in approximately four weeks after we receive the processed FAFSA results.
  – NOTE: The federal government has estimated that first results will be released at the end of March.

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant (PELL):

• A federal grant for undergraduate students, is based on family income and financial resources, your cost of attendance, and enrollment status. The federal Education Department sets the award amounts based on Student Aid Indexes determined by established formulas.  The maximum award in 2025-26 is $7,395.
  
• Grants are based on the number of credits for which you register each term. If you register for less than 12 credits (full-time,) your Pell Grant will be prorated to the established amount based on the federal Department of Education’s schedule.
  
• There is a lifetime limit to the amount of Pell money that can be received. If you are withdrawing from classes and/or not passing classes, you may reach your Pell limit before you complete your degree.

Federal Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG):

• Funds provided by the federal government to Caldwell University to assist undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. In general, recipients must be eligible for a Pell grant. Awards range from $2,000 to $4,000 for the full academic year.

For the federal PELL and FSEOG grant programs, you are an undergraduate only if you have not earned, or completed the requirements for, a bachelor’s degree.

State Grants

Available through the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority – NJ HESAA

Tuition Aid Grant (TAG)

• A grant to full-time undergraduate students (12 credits or more per semester) who meet need criteria established by the State of New Jersey. The maximum award for the 2024-25 year is $14,404.

• Eligibility determined by NJ HESAA, based on income and financial resources provided on the annual FAFSA application.

• Recipients must be New Jersey residents.

• Students may be required to submit additional documentation to the state to support the information provided on the application.  HESAA will notify students of which documents are needed, if necessary.
  
• To submit documents electronically (Electronic Document Collection), please log in to your NJFAMS account.

Educational Opportunity Fund Grant (EOF)

• An additional grant provided by the State of New Jersey to students with exceptional financial need, primarily from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
  
• Students must be New Jersey residents
  
• Recipients must maintain full-time (12 credits or more per semester) enrollment and be determined eligible for the program by the EOF office at Caldwell University.

NJSTARS II:

A continuation of the NJ STARS program, that provides NJ STARS students from New Jersey County Colleges, who have successfully earned an Associate’s degree, with funding to transfer to a New Jersey four-year public college or university to earn a bachelor’s degree. Funding for this program is contingent upon the availability of funds from NJ HESAA.

• You must meet all admission or application requirements established by Caldwell University and meet all deadlines of the Admissions and Financial Aid offices.
  
• Admitted students must submit a final County College transcript, that reflects a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.
  
• You must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually within the established deadlines from NJ HESAA.
  
• The NJ STARS II scholarship provides $2,500 per academic year ($1,250 each term) for up to four semesters.

Governor’s Urban Scholarship Program (GUS):

• A merit-based scholarship that is awarded to the top 5.0% of high school classes who also have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 at the end of their junior year and reside in one of 33 designated municipalities in New Jersey.

• Up to $1,000 per year provided by the State of New Jersey.