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Bill > S802


NJ S802

NJ S802
Expands Community College Opportunity Grant Program to include career and technical education programs at county colleges and county vocational schools.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill expands eligibility for the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) Program to include career and technical education programs offered at county colleges and county vocational schools. Under current law, the CCOG Program provides last-dollar grants to eligible county college students to pay for the remaining costs of tuition and approved educational fees that are not covered by any other need-based grants and merit scholarships. Grants provided by the program cover up to 18 credits in any semester for courses towards an associate's degree, certificate, or a three plus one degree program. The bill expands the CCOG Program to students enrolled in at least six credits of a career and technical education course or program at a county college for a maximum of six semesters of eligibility. The bill also expands the CCOG Program to adult students enrolled in a career and technical education course or program longer than four months in duration at a county vocational school for a maximum of two years of eligibility. Programs and courses permitted under the bill are to prepare a student to earn a license or industry-recognized certification or to take a nationally-recognized exam. Under the bill, grants provided by the program cover up to the recognized equivalent of 18 academic credits in a postsecondary career and technical education course or program as determined by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.

AI Summary

This bill expands the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) Program, which provides "last-dollar" grants to cover remaining tuition and approved educational fees not covered by other aid, to include career and technical education (CTE) programs at county colleges and county vocational schools. Previously, the CCOG Program only covered associate's degrees, certificate programs, or three-plus-one degree programs at county colleges. Now, eligible students enrolled in at least six credits of a CTE course or program at a county college can receive grants for up to six semesters, while adult students enrolled in CTE programs longer than four months at a county vocational school can receive grants for up to two years. These CTE programs are defined as those preparing students for licenses, industry-recognized certifications, or nationally-recognized exams. The bill also clarifies that grants for CTE programs will cover up to the equivalent of 18 academic credits, as determined by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), which administers the program.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (4)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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