Urban Scholars Award

The Urban Scholars Award is a merit-based scholarship that recognizes high-achieving students attending secondary schools in the State’s urban and economically distressed areas (Type A and B school districts as defined by the New Jersey Department of Education), and encourages them to pursue higher education in New Jersey. Program participation is limited to renewal students.

Benefits

Annual awards up to $1,000 are available to qualified students. The scholarship is renewable annually based upon continued eligibility and available funding. Award eligibility is not based on financial need. The scholarship recognizes the academic achievements of graduating New Jersey high school seniors who attend public secondary schools in New Jersey’s urban and economically distressed areas.

Eligibility

Students must:

• Demonstrate academic achievement based upon secondary school records and grade point average (GPA) at the end of the junior year, as follows:
• Students must rank in the top 10% of their class and have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 or equivalent scale) at the end of their junior year in high school. Qualifying students from each school will be ranked among their classmates who meet these criteria and the highest ranking students will be offered scholarships
• Must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• Must be a permanent New Jersey resident for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to high school graduation and upon college enrollment
• Must be registered with Selective Service (if required)
• Must be enrolled full-time in an approved degree or certificate program and must attend a New Jersey approved college, university or degree-granting proprietary school
• Must maintain satisfactory academic progress to qualify for renewal

How Do I Apply?

Candidates are selected for consideration by their high school based upon standard academic criteria in the fall of their senior year in high school. Award recipients are notified of award eligibility in December of their senior year.

Interested students should consult their high school guidance counselor for more information. Students do not apply directly to this program.

Participating Institutions

Students must attend an approved New Jersey college, university or degree-granting proprietary school.

Please click on the link to view the list of approved colleges and universities.

NJ County Colleges

NJ Four-Year Public Colleges and Universities

NJ Private Colleges and Universities

NJ Proprietary Degree-Granting Schools

Need additional information?

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