New Jersey Assembly Bill A4330

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/10/24
• Refer: 5/10/24

Caption

Establishes program to provide free tuition under State Tuition Aid Grant Program to certain students who are accepted to public four-year institutions of higher education and elect to attend county college for first two years.

Impact

To qualify for the program, students must meet several eligibility criteria, including being accepted as a full-time undergraduate at an eligible four-year institution, demonstrating financial need through a State tuition aid grant, and deferring their admission for two years while studying at a county college. Academic credits earned during the first two years at the county college are fully transferable to the four-year institution, ensuring that students can complete their educational pathways without losing progress. This program not only aims to make higher education more accessible but also seeks to reinvest state savings into expanding the Tuition Aid Grant Program, thereby potentially increasing the number of students served.

Summary

Assembly Bill A4330 aims to establish the 'Two to Four Tuition Free Students Program' within New Jersey's State Tuition Aid Grant Program. This initiative is designed to provide free tuition to eligible students who are accepted at a four-year public institution of higher education but choose to begin their undergraduate education at a county college. Specifically, the bill covers the tuition costs for the first two years at the county college to obtain an associate degree and then the remaining two years at the four-year institution to achieve a baccalaureate degree under certain conditions.

Contention

There may be debate surrounding this bill regarding the implications for local educational institutions, as it could influence enrollment patterns between county colleges and four-year universities. Advocates for the program argue that it fosters transition opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds, helping them manage the financial burden of higher education more effectively. However, opponents might express concerns over the sustainability of funding and the adequacy of support services at county colleges to handle potential increases in enrollment as students defer from four-year institutions.