New Jersey residents attending Stevens may qualify for a variety of grants and scholarships offered by the State, most through the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA). These programs include the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG), the Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholarship, the Urban Scholars Program and the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Grant. Few states in the country exhibit New Jersey's commitment to assisting students and their families with the cost of higher education. These awards cannot be used at out of state colleges or universities. They are only available to those students who have resided in New Jersey for at least 12 months as of September 15 of the academic year (in the case of dependent students, the parent or parents must also meet the same residency requirement). Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) TAG is a need-based grant, available to assist low and middle income students. Annual award amounts range between $1,250 and $10,718. Eligibility is based on the data supplied on the FAFSA and may fluctuate with the student's or family's financial circumstances from one year to the next. TAG is available for a maximum of nine semesters of undergraduate study. Students must be enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program. However, students in their final semester who need fewer than 12 credits to fulfill their degree requirements may qualify for TAG during that term with as few as 6 credits. Students must meet the June 1st yearly TAG deadline in order to be re-awarded for the next academic year. Students are still required to meet the Institute's renewal deadline of April 15th. Visit the NJHESAA web site for more information regarding the TAG Program. Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholarship / Urban Scholars Program The Bloustein Distinguished Scholarship is a $930-$1,000 annual award, renewable for a total of eight semesters of undergraduate study. A merit-based award, its recipients are chosen during the fall of their senior year of high school. Eligibility criteria are combined SAT scores and class rank. Standards are set by the State. Currently, recipients must have scored a combined 1260 or higher on the SAT and be ranked first, second or third in their class at the end of the junior year (but at least in the top ten percent). Financial need is not a criterion for selection or renewal. No application form is necessary. New Jersey also offers a $1,000 scholarship known as the Urban Scholars Award, also available for eight semesters. It is available only to students attending high schools in urban or economically depressed areas of the State, as determined by the New Jersey Department of Education. Recipients must be in the top ten percent of their class with a grade point average no lower than 3.0 or its equivalent. Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) New Jersey residents admitted into The Stevens Technical Enrichment Program (STEP) upon entry into Stevens may also qualify for an Educational Opportunity Fund, or EOF, Grant. This need-based award is in the amount of $2,500. In order to qualify for this grant and admission into the EOF program, a student (and/or family) must meet income guidelines established by the State of New Jersey, and the student must also be from an educationally disadvantaged background.