The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program is one of the nation’s most successful comprehensive student support programs. The EOF Program at Ramapo College provides additional financial assistance to federal and state grants awarded. On average, over one million dollars in Ramapo College/EOF Merit Scholarships (RCG/EOF) and EOF State Grants are awarded annually to students enrolled in our EOF Program. Ramapo College contributes approximately $500,000 annually to our RCG/EOF Scholarship Fund. Few other New Jersey colleges provide this level of financial support to their EOF Programs.

In order to qualify, students must admitted to Ramapo College through the EOF Program, meeting academic and financial eligibility requirements. For information about requirements, visit the Admissions Requirements page.

Financial Eligibility Requirements

Financial eligibility requirements for EOF consideration are determined by the State of New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and are the same for all EOF Programs in New Jersey.

Freshmen Financial Requirements are based on the total family income and the household size supported by that income. Total family income includes all wages from work, non-taxable income and all assets the family possess. These income requirements change annually. For students beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year, the requirements are listed below.

Add $8,840 in income and $1,768 in assets for each additional member of household. Family assets cannot exceed more than 20% of the total income allowed.

Financial eligibility for transfer applicants is determined by the information provided on the applicant’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application. Transfer applicants should include Ramapo College on their FAFSA (Code: 009344) or on their NJAFA application.

Financial Assistance for Incoming EOF Freshmen

Qualified EOF Freshmen receive a financial aid package that includes a combination of federal and state grants, institutional grants and subsidized federal student loans. The total amount of the award will be dependent on the information on each individual student’s FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid (NJAFA) application and participation in the mandatory EOF Pre-Freshman Summer Studies Program.

EOF Freshmen Funding Package: EOF Freshmen who successfully complete the mandatory EOF Pre-Freshman Summer Studies Program with a 2.5 GPA or higher are eligible to receive the following funding package that includes:

• Federal grant awards
• State grant awards
• NJ EOF Grant of $1,550 per year for residential students ($1,300 per year for commuters)
• a $3,500 federal subsidized student loan
• an EOF Scholarship of up to $5,000 per year (for up to 4 years; a total award of up to $20,000)
• $1,400 book award to cover the cost of books in the first year ($700/semester)

This package is applied to all direct costs of attendance (tuition, fees, housing and meal plan) at Ramapo College for up to four years so long as the student maintains a strong GPA.

Financial Assistance for Incoming EOF Transfer Students

EOF Transfer Students continue to receive all federal and state need-based aid that they are eligible for as determined by the information on their updated Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or their NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application. The EOF State Grant is awarded based on available funds. Unfunded transfer students are issued the EOF Grant as soon as funds are available.

Scholarships for Continuing Ramapo Students

Each year the Ramapo College Foundation provides more than 400 scholarships that are funded by donations from private donors, businesses and charitable foundations. Students can either apply for these foundation scholarships or be nominated for them. The College can also award other scholarships based on a variety of criteria established by private donors. Full- and part-time students are eligible for these awards. Candidates must be in good academic standing and may apply for more than one award as long as they meet all eligibility requirements. For more information about these awards, please visit the Scholarships page.

FAFSA and NJAFA Information

The information on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to determine eligibility for federal and state need-based aid (grants), federal work-study and federal student loans. NJ Dreamers can submit the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application through the NJ Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJ HESAA) to determine eligibility for state need-based aid (grants), including NJ Tuition Aid Grant, the EOF State Grant, and the NJ STARS and NJ STARS II programs. These applications are used for final verification of all financial aid awards.

All students applying to Ramapo College through the EOF Program must file either the FAFSA or NJAFA by March 1. A number of documents will be needed to complete and update these applications. These include federal income tax returns, both for parents and applicant, untaxed income documents, such as social security and public assistance award letters, investment records and bank statements.

Once you complete your FAFSA/NJAFA application, the information provided will determine eligibility for government need-based aid, as well as verify your eligibility for EOF funding. Maximum federal and state awards are given to those students with a zero EFC (estimated family contribution).

Financial Aid Awards

Students cannot be admitted to Ramapo College through the EOF Program without having qualified for the NJ EOF State Grant. This is determined by a student’s complete application. Students who are eligible for EOF funding typically are eligible to receive other types of need-based aid. These include:

Federal and State Grants

• Federal Pell Grants
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
• Federal Work Study
• New Jersey Tuition Aid Grants (NJ TAG)

Student Educational Loans

• Federal Stafford Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
• Federal PLUS Loans (Unsubsidized Parent Loans)
• Federal Perkins Loans
• NJ CLASS Loans

Federal and state grants are awarded to qualified, matriculated students who are enrolled full-time (12 credits or more) and do not need to be repaid. Educational loans are awarded to qualified, matriculated students and require repayment upon graduation.

Additional Financial Assistance

Pre-Freshman Summer Program Funding

Every entering freshman class must attend the Pre-Freshman Summer Studies Program. This 6-week program allows for incoming freshmen to earn up to 8 college credits, live on campus and begin their college career before the start of the Fall semester. All costs of attending the Pre-Freshman Summer Studies Program are covered by the EOF Program, including tuition, fees, room, board and books.

Additional Scholarships for Continuing EOF Students

After the first year, EOF students can look to additional scholarship opportunities offered by Ramapo College for all eligible Ramapo students. Students can either apply for these foundation scholarships or be nominated for them. The College can also award other scholarships based on a variety of criteria established by private donors. Full- and part-time students are eligible for these awards. For more information about these awards, please visit the Scholarships page.

Other Financial Assistance

There are many expenses associated with attending college. There are the tuition/fees, room, board, and books for the Fall and Spring terms. However, there could also be Summer session tuition and fees, and other fees for CLEP examinations, graduate school applications, graduate school entrance examinations, and more. Students seeking assistance with covering courses/career related activities including college-level proficiency exams, NYU Language Proficiency exams, National Student Exchange Program enrollment fees, professional association educational events, board certification fees and professional licensure fees, can apply for funding. Students can also apply for awards which cover graduate school related fees including admission applications, entrance exams and test prep courses.

In addition, other scholarship opportunities are available to EOF students thanks to the generosity of external donors, such as alumni, foundations, corporations and friends of the college. Three of these are specifically for EOF students: The Milton and Granville Gittens EOF Scholarship,The EOF Program Advising Board (PAB) Scholarship, and The Sidney J. Geltman Memorial Scholarship. More information on these awards and other externally funded scholarships can be found at https://www.ramapo.edu/scholarships/