New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund

The New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) is a state-sponsored program that provides support services such as counseling, tutoring, advising, career development, and financial assistance to eligible students. To be considered, meet the state-established financial guidelines and the university's academic eligibility requirements.

At Stevens, EOF is facilitated through STEP (one of the programs within the Office of the Student Development and Enrichment Programs, which offers a wide range of services and programs to support students’ success, and encourage their academic, professional, cultural and personal development. The support begins with the summer Bridge program, and continues during the academic year.

The services are free of charge, and students have access during their undergraduate career and beyond. EOF students receive personal assistance from the program’s professional staff, and also benefit from peer support, alumni relationships, and occasional corporate assistance. The content and scope of the programs and services respond to the students’ changing interests and requests, but reflect their individual and collective needs. Among the programs and services are:

Academic Support – Peer Tutoring

Students helping students: designed to complement classroom attendance, and present the material in a way to improve the student’s understanding; place students in a non-threatening environment and encourage them to express and test themselves verbally as part of a well-balanced question/ information exchange in which both partners participate; help students develop trust in themselves as learners. The tutoring program runs from the third week of each semester through the last week of semester classes. Any EOF student may apply for a (free) tutor.

Counseling and Advising

The counseling component offers both individual and group counseling or advising. Students are guided in the creation of SMART goals which are then used to help frame their undergraduate career and related choices. They are given access to assistance to deal with a wide range of concerns from difficulty adjusting to college during freshman year, to the job search and selection process in the senior year, and anything in between. Additionally students receive encouragement to try new experiences and go outside their comfort zone.

Personal Development

A series of opportunities which help students develop or increase their non-academic and transferrable skills, including leadership, presentation, and communication. Workshops presented by professionals and company representatives, a leadership development program, and community service experiences are offered throughout the year.

People of all identities are welcome to participate. Stevens does not discriminate against any person on the basis of sex, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

EOF Eligibility

All program participants must meet the university’s academic guidelines and state-established financial guidelines for consideration.

• Demonstrate an educational and economic need.

• Be a New Jersey resident 12 consecutive months prior to attending.

• Meet the academic criteria as set by the institution.

• File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application.

• Proof of historical poverty where gross income and assets fall within the criteria shown in the chart below:

2026-2027 EOF Income Eligibility Scale with Asset Cap Calculation

First Year Students Applying for EOF

First year students applying to Stevens have the opportunity to indicate an interest in being considered for EOF on their application for admission. While a separate application is not required for consideration, applicants must submit the following additional financial documents via their applicant portal so that financial eligibility for EOF can be determined:

• EOF Supplement Checklist

• Verification Worksheet

• Income Tax Return Transcripts (2023 & 2024)

• W2 or 1099’s (2023 & 2024)

• Additional Supplement Form

After the application for admission is submitted, students will receive a communication with instructions outlining the required financial documents as well as how to access the applicant portal where they will be able to upload these materials.

Applicants must also submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile as a part of their EOF and financial eligibility review. Students who cannot file a FAFSA may complete the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application and should contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information at [email protected].

To be reviewed for EOF, applicants must submit the above financial documents by deadlines related to their application decision plan. The EOF program has limited enrollment capacity and is filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Early Decision I: EOF documents due by November 21, 2025

• Early Action: EOF documents due by January 14, 2026

• Early Decision II: EOF documents due by January 16, 2026

• Regular Decision: EOF documents due by March 4, 2026

EOF students at Stevens are offered financial aid to assist them in meeting the costs of tuition and fees. EOF financial aid offers consist of a combination of federal, state, and institutional merit and grant aid. Included in the offer is an EOF Grant. The EOF Grant is currently $3,050 for the academic year.

Please note that submission of documentation does not guarantee admission to Stevens or the EOF Program.

Transfer Students Applying for EOF

Transfer students applying to Stevens have the opportunity on their application to indicate an interest in being considered for EOF. A separate application is not required for consideration. If admitted, the student must reach out to Dean Deborah Berkley to discuss their EOF eligibility at Stevens further. EOF transfer spots are extremely limited and if available they will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

EOF financial aid offers consist of a combination of federal, state, and institutional merit and grant aid. Included in the offer is an EOF Grant. The EOF Grant is currently $3,050 for the academic year.

Read more about the NJ Educational Opportunity Fund. If you have any questions about EOF at Stevens, please contact [email protected].