The College of New Jersey has a long history of providing a world-class education at a reasonable cost. First-year students that submit a Fall 2026 application to TCNJ by the January 1, 2026 priority scholarship deadline are automatically considered for all priority merit scholarships upon submission of their application. These awards are based on a holistic admissions evaluation of a student’s overall high school academic record (including the strength of curriculum/academic rigor, GPA, class rank, and strength of high school).
Our largest Fall 2026 merit scholarship is the Presidential Scholarship, which has a maximum value of $12,000 per year. This scholarship may be granted to Fall 2026 applicants who submit their application by the priority scholarship deadline and fall in the top ten percent of their graduating class, following a careful and comprehensive review of their academic transcript.
As a test-optional institution, TCNJ will not consider standardized test scores as part of our merit scholarship review process.
Merit-based scholarships will be awarded to high-achieving, first-year applicants who submit an application before January 1, 2026 and demonstrate strong academic performance ranked in the top 30% of their high school graduating class. For schools that do not provide class rank, we analyze past cycle data and cross reference with GPA information provided by the school counselors.
In addition to class rank, applicants will be subject to an evaluation of each of the following by our admissions team to determine merit scholarship eligibility:
- Academic rigor of high school transcript/strength of curriculum
- Academic performance/cumulative weighted GPA
- Overall competitiveness of the high school applicant pool
To be considered: Apply to TCNJ for the Fall 2026 term and submit all required credentials by January 1, 2026.* No separate application is required to receive a merit scholarship. First-year merit award recipients may receive additional awards based on financial need.
Scholarships are distributed at the time of acceptance by TCNJ and are renewable for up to 8 consecutive semesters, as an undergraduate student, provided the student maintains full-time enrollment and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. These scholarships are only available to citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Questions about scholarships can be directed to Admissions at 609.771.2131.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
Lions Legacy Award
TCNJ also offers a Lions Legacy Award to the children of alumni who graduated from TCNJ/TSC. Any legacy student who attends TCNJ from out-of-state and meets the academic criteria listed below will pay in-state tuition during their four consecutive years of study.
Lions Legacy recipients must meet any one of the three following academic minimums:
- Rank in the top 30% of the student’s high school graduating class.
- 1150+ on a two-part (superscored) SAT
- 23+ on a composite (superscored) ACT
If you have questions about the Lions Legacy program, please contact Matt Middleton, Associate Director of Out-of-State Recruitment, at middlet2@TCNJ.edu