<p>For a while now, NJ has had a special program to try to provide higher education for the top students in NJ. It's got tough requirements but it is the cheapest way to get higher education in a very expensive state. The top 15% of students graduating from NJ high schools are offered free tuition and fees in the community college system.</p>
<p>I’m not seeing the details in your link but our (SUNY) CC has offered free tuition to all vals & sals for years. Not sure if all of them do, statewide, though. I think it’s been a good option for kids whose parents couldn’t afford college or who were just not interested in leaving home yet.</p>
<p>We live in NJ.
I believe the STARS program had been even MORE generous in the past, perhaps top 20% of HS class qualified.</p>
<p>I’m glad that it is still available. It’s a viable option for some kids who are serious about getting an education but don’t have the funding to do it on their own.</p>
<p>That said, we don’t know of any students who have taken advantage of it. Most of son’s class would hardly consider instate publics, let alone the CC route to an instate public. It’s sad but many of our NJ kids don’t value Rutgers, TCNJ, Ramapo, etc and only use them as safeties if at all. And families in our area USUALLY can help their students to go directly to 4 year schools.</p>
<p>And then the STARS route is more applicable to some majors…our son attended TCNJ and then graduated from Rutgers with a music education major. I don’t think two years of CC would have worked in his case. For other majors, it probably is easier to make the course sequences work out.</p>
<p>Does anyone here know of an actual NJ STARS student? Love to hear how it worked for them.</p>
<p>Yes - I now a couple of stars students. One went through the community college and then went onto to the four year state college. Did wonderfully. I know another student starting next year. Its a great option for top students that may have to foot the entire bill themselves.</p>
<p>It has been scaled back, the top 20% used to qualify. </p>
<p>I had the same experience as you did, musicmom, my son wouldn’t consider it and Rutgers was not valued by kids in my son’s school. That said, I know more kids went to both Rutgers and community college in the past two years than in the years earlier, so I would bet some kids whose families have had financial problems may have taken advantage of it.</p>
<p>So, far the only other state mentioned is NY- that the vals and sals get free tuition at a SUNY CC - This NJ program goes to more people than just 2.</p>