Caldwell University is proud to offer new undergraduate students the Caldwell Commitment Program, which provides qualified students with full tuition and general fees through a combination of scholarships, federal grant funds, and state grant funds.
Students who qualify for the Caldwell Commitment Program will pay no tuition and general fees, as long as they remain academically and financially eligible for the program.
It’s not too late to file your academic year 2024-25 FAFSA application. If you have not already done so, complete the application as soon as possible on the official FAFSA site (studentaid.gov).
For returning student renewal grants, the New Jersey State Grant Deadline for the 2024-25 academic year has passed.
The 2025-26 FAFSA is expected to be available on or around December 1, 2024.
FAFSA FILING TIPS
Here are some tips to remember when filling out your 2024-25 FAFSA:
You should access the FAFSA at studentaid.gov. – Be sure to use the 2024-25 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 welcome2financialaid@caldwell.edu 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 2022 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 AND STATE GRANTS
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grant (PELL):
A federal grant for undergraduate students, 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. Maximum award in 2024-25 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 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
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Caldwell Financial Aid
A Caldwell University education can be affordable for all students, by utilizing various types of financial aid, Our students receive more than $30 million in Caldwell University-funded scholarships and grants, in addition to millions more in state and federal grants.
We know that financing your education can be complicated; that’s why we strive to support you every step of the way. The financial resources outlined below will give you the tools and information necessary to file your FAFSA and understand the student loan process. Visit our Helpful Sites page for links to general financial aid resources and our Financial Aid FAQs for Caldwell University-specific information. Learn more about Caldwell Scholarships and Grants.
We know that navigating the financial aid process can be overwhelming, especially if you are new to the process or are returning after a long hiatus. The Office of Financial Aid has gathered new student tools that can assist you in determining how you can fund your education. Explore the links below for an overview of the Caldwell financial aid process and what student loans or grants you may qualify for based on your circumstances.
Do you still have a balance owed after all your grants and scholarships have been applied towards your tuition? The student loan resources outlined below can assist you as you explore how to cover that balance. The Stafford Student loan should always be your first option when taking out a loan, especially if you qualify for a “subsidized” amount.
Has the Office of Financial Aid been asking you for forms? Or was there something you needed to submit to us to review? From Verification to FERPA regulations, we’ve linked to the forms you need below. If tax documents are being requested by our office, expand the Tax Return Information and IRS Request section below. This process is very important to finalize your Caldwell financial aid.
The forms below are all in PDF format. If you don’t have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download it free.
Verification Forms
After you file your FAFSA, you may be randomly selected for FAFSA verification. View the relevant forms below if you are selected for review.
These Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms may be necessary to complete the FAFSA process. These forms include Tax Return Transcripts, Verification of Non-Filing Status and W-2 requests.
Request for Special Circumstance Review If you feel there are extenuating circumstances surrounding your financial history, this form allows you to detail those circumstances for further review by the Office of Financial Aid.
Dependency Override Worksheet A Financial Aid Administrator may authorize Dependency Status Override only if you thoroughly document extreme family circumstances. This determination must be reviewed every year. Extreme circumstance includes violent and/or abusive parental behavior and incarceration of parent.
EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT include:
The student does not reside with the parent(s).
The parent(s) live in another country.
The student and parent(s) “do not get along.”
The parent(s) does not claim the student as a tax exemption.
The parent(s) does not support the student or believe it is a parental responsibility to pay for college.
The parent(s) and/or step-parent(s) are unable and/or unwilling to provide information/sign the FAFSA and/or to assist in paying for college.
Student Loan Forms
Summer Loan Request Form You should utilize the following form to see if they have any loan eligibility left for the summer term.
Stafford Loan Grade Level Change Form If at the end of the current semester your class standing changes to sophomore or junior level (i.e. total number of credits earned is greater or equal to 30 or 60 respectively), you may be eligible for additional loan funds for the following semester. Please complete this form and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid.
Caldwell University’s Office of Financial Aid is here to assist you as you navigate the financial aid process. If you have questions about filing your FAFSA, the student loan process or Caldwell scholarships, contact our team by email at welcome2financialaid@caldwell.edu or by phone at 973-618-3221.
Office of Financial Aid Hours:
Fall and Spring term: Wednesday through Friday – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday and Tuesday – 8:30 am to 6:00 pm
Summer term: Monday – Thursday – 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Are you confident that you are savvy with your money? Navigating college expenses can be tough, but with a little help from financial literacy resources, you can make college more affordable and set yourself up for a life of financial success. The Financial Football mobile app offers financial information in the form of an interactive game, while Get Financially Fit- Webinars and Worksheets offers similar information in a more streamlined format.
