New Admitted First-Year Students

You have already taken a huge step in your college search process by applying to NJIT. And, you'll soon discover the value of an NJIT education - New Jersey's premier science and technology university. We are committed to helping students make an NJIT education a reality. About 92 percent of our students receive financial assistance, and we awarded over $100 million in need-based, merit-based financial aid and student employment.

You will find the steps below to access your electronic 2024-2025 Award Offer and other materials to guide you in the financial aid process. We encourage you to accept your awards within two weeks. In addition, a Financial Aid Newsletter was prepared to explain the details and critical deadlines. We also have extensive information for every aid program in the 2024-2025 NJIT Student Financial Aid Services Policies and Procedures document. It is very important to read the entire document as eligibility requirements for all aid programs are explained in detail.

Accepting your awards is very easy. Just follow these steps:

Claim your UCID at: http://ist.njit.edu/accounts/ucid.php (If not already done so).

Go to my.njit.edu.

Enter UCID & password.

Click on Discover More.

In the Financial Aid Account Card, click on "Financial Aid Dashboard".

Select "2024-2025" Aid Year from the drop-down.

Go to Award Offer tab.

Under 'Loans' section, review and accept or decline your awards.

Click 'Submit'.

Also, NJIT is delighted to provide a new price calculator as a guide to assist in early financial planning. To get started with the Tuition Price Calculator go to: https://njit.studentaidcalculator.com

Albert Dorman Honor's College | Resources | 2024-2025 Student Handbook

If you have any questions as you plan your NJIT education, do not hesitate to call us at 973-596-3479 or via email at finaid@njit.edu. We look forward to seeing you on campus.

Top Ten Financial Aid Questions

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When will I get my College Financing Plan?

Your College Financing Plan (CFP) is sent to you via email. Make sure to check your NJIT and personal emails regularly. If you have still not received your CFP, email us at finaid@njit.edu.

How can I change my housing status plans and will this change my eligibility?

Email us at finaid@njit.edu and we will update your housing status and reissue an updated College Financing Plan.

Cost for on-campus housing and meal plan:

Standard double-occupancy room: $4,830
Basic Meal plan A: $2,223

I was awarded a scholarship. What are the scholarship terms and conditions for renewal?

Terms and Conditions:

Continuous Full-time enrollment
3.0 GPA minimum starting at the end of the first year and checked annually at the end of the spring semester
8 maximum payments (10 for Architecture students)
Meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress assessment for Financial Aid

Scholarship appeals:

Allowed one chance to appeal
Must have a documented extenuating circumstance
If approved, may be approved for a full year or one semester (on probation)

I was admitted to NJIT but did not receive a merit scholarship yet. What does that mean?

NJIT provides merit scholarships for those who qualify.
NJIT considers the following student information to determine eligibility:
- Rigorous high school curriculum program (such a program includes taking AP courses, being in a dual program, having taken Math and Science courses, and the grades associated with these courses.
- If you have not met scholarship eligibility, this does not mean you are not admissible or that you will not succeed at NJIT. There is a possibility of a second review of your application to determine your eligibility

Note: If you received a scholarship from another school, or received a scholarship that is more than what NJIT offered; email us at finaid@njit.edu.

What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

SAI is an eligibility index number that the financial aid office uses to determine how much federal student aid you would receive.
This number results from the information that you provide on your FAFSA® form; takes student contribution and parent contribution (income, assets, taxes paid, and demographics of the student and family).
This number is not a dollar amount of aid eligibility or what your family is expected to provide. A negative SAI indicates the student has a higher financial need.

What kind of loans are available from the federal government and when do I repay them?

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan: An undergraduate federal student loan based on financial need and offers students a reduced, fixed interest rate and flexible repayment terms. Interest is subsidized, meaning it does not accrue to the borrower, while in school at least half-time, for the first six months after you leave school (referred to as a grace period*), or deferment period (a postponement of loan payments). You can start paying the loan back while you are enrolled in school but it is not required. Annual and aggregate loan limits apply.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: This student loan offers students a fixed interest rate and flexible repayment terms. It is not based on financial need. Interest begins to accrue when the loan is disbursed and can be paid while the student is enrolled or when loan repayment begins. You can start paying the loan back while you are enrolled in school but it is not required. If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan). The borrower is responsible for paying the interest during all periods. Annual and aggregate limits apply. Read about this loan.
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan: Federal loan that parents of dependent undergraduate students can borrow to help pay for educational expenses. Parents must pass a credit check for adverse credit history to qualify for PLUS loans.

Are there resources available to help me investigate other types of aid?

Yes, aligned with our mission to provide an affordable education within reach, we invested in the Scholarship Universe Tool which is free of charge to all students. This tool matches your profile with external scholarship sources/agencies for scholarship opportunities. Visit Scholarship Universe and create your profile.
Other sources of aid
- Up to 6-installment payment plan (details). See billing deadlines
- Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan (terms of loan)
- Private Loans (find a lender)
- RA position in exchange for full room and meals covered

What are the benefits of working on campus?

Benefits

Develops leadership skills
Helps build your resume
Establish more campus connections
If funding is from Federal Work-Study, does not count on the FAFSA

Once you become a student, you can search and apply for jobs on the portal (maximum hours are 20/week). You can work as:

Federal Work-Study
Institutional Work-Study

What happens if my family's financial situation does not accurately reflect what was reported in the FAFSA?

Student Financial Aid Services can do a re-evaluation using current income through a process called Income Reduction Appeal
- The appeal form is not yet available, look out for it on the site in May.

What is Verification?

Verification is a federally or state mandated process to confirm the accuracy of data provided by selected applicants on the FAFSA. To complete the verification process, the student, their parent(s), or spouse, if applicable, are required to provide certain documents to the school or state (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority) for review. If the documentation the student provides does not match what was reported on the FAFSA, verification can result in changes to the student's financial aid eligibility, and/or financial aid offers.

Financial Aid Glossary

The College Financing Plan	A document sent by a postsecondary institution to a student that outlines the amounts and details of the financial aid being offered to the student, which may include scholarships, grants, loans, employment, or other forms of financial assistance to pay for college expenses that include direct costs and indirect expenses.
Student Aid Index (SAI)	An eligibility index number that the financial aid office uses to determine how much federal aid a student is eligible to receive. The SAI is not the amount of money a family will have to pay for college, or the amount of federal student aid the student will receive. Generally, students with a higher SAI are eligible for less need-based financial aid. It is based upon the information provided by the student and their family on the FAFSA.
Cost of Attendance (COA)	Consists of the sum of educational costs payable to the school (direct costs) and indirect expenses not charged by the school but are out-of-pocket costs that are considered necessary and maybe incurred by the student. The COA represents the highest dollar amount of financial aid a student can receive during an award year. COA includes the following cost components: Tuition and fees Housing and food Books, course materials, supplies, equipment (including documented rental or purchase of a computer) Transportation Personal expenses Federal student loan fees Professional licensure certification, or a first professional credential costs for a program requiring professional licensure, certification, or a first professional credential for employment in the field of study Dependent care, disability-related expenses, study abroad expenses and cooperative education costs can be included upon request based on student’s circumstances For students attending less than half-time, the COA includes: Tuition and fees Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment Transportation Federal student loan fees Professional licensure, certification, or a first professional credential costs if the academic program leads to a professional licensure, certification, or credential Dependent care, disability-related expenses, study abroad expenses, and cooperative education costs (if applicable upon request)
Direct Costs	Generally, include tuition, fees, housing, and food (for students residing on campus). For students not residing on campus, directs costs are tuition and fees.
Indirect Expenses	Expenses not paid directly to the school, but associated with receiving an education and you may incur these expenses while attending school. These expenses are estimated by the school and may differ from student to student based on their individual circumstances. These expenses may include books, course materials, supplies, equipment (including documented rental or purchase of a computer), transportation, personal expenses, dependent care costs, disability-related expenses and professional licensure certification, or a first professional credential costs for a program requiring professional licensure, certification, or a first professional credential for employment in the field of study.
Educational Loan	Money borrowed from the federal government, or a private source like a bank or financial institution to pay for educational expenses and must be paid back with interest. Loans from the federal government typically have a lower interest rate than loans from private lenders.
Enrollment Status	Number of credits, clock hours, or classes the student is enrolled in, or whether they have withdrawn, graduated, etc. Enrollment status affects eligibility for and the amount of financial aid a student may receive. It also affects when student loans enter repayment status.
Federal Loan Program	Allows eligible students and parents to borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education at participating colleges or universities. Federal student loans include Federal Direct Subsidized, Federal Direct Unsubsidized and the Federal Direct PLUS programs for parents of dependent students and graduate or professional students. Read more about federal loans.
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan	An undergraduate federal student loan based on financial need and offers students a reduced, fixed interest rate and flexible repayment terms. Interest is subsidized, meaning it does not accrue to the borrower, while in school at least half-time, for the first six months after you leave school (referred to as a grace period*), or deferment period (a postponement of loan payments). Annual and aggregate loan limits apply.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan	Offers students a fixed interest rate and flexible repayment terms. It is not based on financial need. Interest begins to accrue when the loan is disbursed and can be paid while the student is enrolled or when loan repayment begins. If you choose not to pay the interest while you are in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, your interest will accrue (accumulate) and be capitalized (that is, your interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan). The borrower is responsible for paying the interest during all periods. Annual and aggregate limits apply. Read about this loan.
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan	Federal loan that parents of dependent undergraduate students can borrow to help pay for educational expenses. Parents must pass a credit check for adverse credit history to qualify for PLUS loans.
Federal Pell Grant	Federal grant program designed to assist undergraduate students in low- and moderate-income households to pay for college. The award amount is based on the cost of the institution, Student Aid Index (SAI), and enrollment status, and is subject to an aggregate lifetime limit.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)	Federal grant provided by the institution to qualified undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional financial need and does not need to be repaid. The amount of funding from this program varies by institution.
Federal Work-Study	A federal student aid program that provides part-time employment while the student is enrolled in school to help pay his or her education expenses. Students must seek out and apply for work-study jobs at their school. Students will be paid directly for the hours they work and the amount they earn cannot exceed the total amount awarded by the school for the award year. Students have to apply for the jobs themselves.
Financial Need	The student's Cost of Attendance minus their Student Aid Index.
Grants and Scholarships	Student aid funds that do not have to be repaid. They can be called grants, scholarships, tuition remissions, or tuition waivers. Grants are need-based, while scholarships are usually merit-based. Occasionally you might have to pay back part or all of a grant or scholarship if, for example, you withdraw from school before finishing a semester.
Need-based Aid	Financial assistance provided to students based on their financial situation, determined by completing the FAFSA. Need-based financial aid can take different forms, including grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and low-interest loans, like the Federal Direct Subsidized loan.
Need-based Grants	Provided to students based on their financial need, determined by completing the FAFSA. Need-based grants include Federal Pell grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), state grants like Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) and NJIT Highlander Grant.
Net Cost	An estimate of the actual cost that a student and his or her family need to pay in a given year to cover education expenses for the student to attend a particular school. Net cost is determined by taking the institution’s cost of attendance and subtracting any grants and scholarships for which the student may be eligible.
Private Loan	A student or parent loan from a bank, credit union, private company, a nonprofit or state-affiliated lender, or from the college or university directly to pay for educational costs. Interest begins to accrue when the loan is disbursed, and repayment begins while the student is still enrolled in school.
Verification	A federally or state mandated process to confirm the accuracy of data provided by selected applicants on the FAFSA. To complete the verification process, the student, their parent(s), or spouse, if applicable, are required to provide certain documents to the school or state (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority) for review. If the documentation the student provides does not match what was reported on the FAFSA, verification can result in changes to the student's financial aid eligibility, and/or financial aid offers.
Additional Resources	Funding options outside of grants and scholarships that a student and their family may use to pay any remaining costs or expenses. This may include institutional payment plans, external scholarships, personal savings, private loans or Federal Direct Parent PLUS loans.