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NJ Stars program offered at county colleges is a great value
By Clare Marie Celano
T here's never been a better reason to get good grades in high school. Studying hard and making the grade can now give you a free two-year college education at a community college.
 | | Brookdale Community College |
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The county colleges are making it easier than ever to get a great education at minimal cost with the state-funded NJ STARS program, which rewards a hard-working high school student with the cost of tuition at any of the state's 19 community colleges, less any state, federal grants or scholarships for up to five semesters.
The NJ STARS program also offers help with tuition for those who want to transfer to a fouryear college after graduating from the community college.
Thomas Peterson, director of Marketing and Public Information for Middlesex County College in Edison, said he is "very happy" with the NJ STARS program. Peterson said that the program, implemented in 2004, provided free tuition for 22 students that year. Enrollment in the program has grown to 417 students in 2008.
"The program is absolutely fantastic," Peterson said. "Students are getting a fabulous deal."
 | | Ocean County College |
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"NJ STARS offers a great way for students to get a tuition-free education," Peterson said. "The program also offers a great way to keep the best and the brightest students in New Jersey."
In order to be eligible for the NJ STARS program, students must graduate in the top 15 percent of the class, complete a rigorous high school course of study, and achieve the required score on a college placement test to determine college readiness, Peterson said.
If a student does not achieve the required score on the placement test, he or she will able to take appropriate courses while still in high school to improve their skills and can attend remedial courses at the county college while enrolled in high school, according to the NJ STARS Fact Sheet.
The NJ STARS program does not cover remedial course work.
Stephanie Fitzsimmons, acting financial aid director at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, said that students must apply to the county college in their home county.
"The only way they can apply to a different county college is if their own home county college does not offer the program they are looking for," Fitzsimmons said.
Brookdale Community College began its NJ STARS program with 35 students in 2004 and now has 435 students enrolled in the program.
"This is a wonderful program that is rigorous and merit based," Fitzsimmons said.
She added that students must maintain a 3.0 GPA while enrolled in the community college program.
Students must also maintain a certain GPA in order to qualify for the NJ STARS II program.
Fitzsimmons said that those who maintain a 3.25 to 3.49 GPA will qualify for $6,000 toward tuition per year. Those who maintain a 3.49 and above will be able to secure the top contribution, $7,000, per year, according to Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons said that she has followed some of her students through the four-year college transfer and they have no regrets and are very pleased that they went through the program.
Students seem to be enjoying the freedom of being able to study diligently without stressing over the financial burden a college education can impose. Many students continue on to enroll in the NJ STARS II program, which offers tuition assistance for students who go on to enroll in a four-year state college or university.
Elaine Schardien, NJ STARS coordinator for Ocean County College in Toms River, said she believes the NJ STARS II program affords "a phenomenal opportunity for students to get a great education at very affordable prices."
She added that the tiered system for four-year colleges allows for tuition assistance from $6,000 to $7,000 per year, depending on the student's GPA.
Ocean County College had 98 NJ STARS initially and now has 800 students enrolled in the program.
Schardien said she arranges a reception conference where students who have transferred to four-year colleges return to speak to current NJ STARS students at OCC.
"They tell the students how it is to transfer in their junior year to a fouryear college. The feedback we get from these transfer students is always good. They give the students advice and personal information as well," she said.
Schardien said that said she helps students with the transfer process.
"We have been very successful in transferring credits," she said.
After graduating from the program, Schardien said that students are "really ready to transfer to a four-year college. They are well prepared academically, and socially they have developed and matured here," she said.
She added that the NJ STARS program has actually changed the dynamics of students in a positive way.
"We have a higher enrollment in our leadership programs, and 42 percent of our athletes are NJ STARS. This program has also changed the nature and the perception of county colleges," Schardien added.
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