New Scarlet Guarantee initiative will cover entire tuition costs for eligible in-state students, Conway says
The Scarlet Guarantee is a new financial aid program that will launch in the Fall 2022 semester to increase affordability for eligible in-state students by covering University tuition costs.
The program will be available to 7,600 first-year and sophomore students with family incomes less than $65,000 and will also reduce the amount of tuition and fees paid out-of-pocket by students with family incomes less than $100,000, according to a press release.
Chancellor-Provost Francine Conway said the program is looking to support the population of undergraduate students at the University who have the most demonstrable needs.
The program is an extension of the Garden State Guarantee — a statewide program previously launched by Gov. Phil Murphy (D-N.J.) which will provide financial aid to juniors and seniors depending on their adjusted gross income in the 2022-2023 academic year, she said.
“The idea is that this program, the Scarlet Guarantee, together with the state of New Jersey's Garden State Guarantee initiative, can really reduce the cost for the entire four years of qualified students who are in the undergraduate Rutgers—New Brunswick campus,” Conway said.
She also said the main source of funding for the program will come from the Garden State Guarantee. Approximately $10 million of the $24 million in the program will go toward funding for the Scarlet Guarantee.
Sherrell Watson-Hall, director of the Office of Financial Aid, said the number of students who will benefit from the program was determined based on an analysis of the adjusted gross income of the student population in 2021.
Conway said that students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid in order to determine their eligibility for the program. Students must renew the application each year, and the University will observe the reported adjusted gross income.
In addition, students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours to qualify for financial assistance through the program, according to the release.
In-state students who benefit from the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act will fill out the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application in order to determine their eligibility for the program, she said.
“I just want to say that every dollar that we invest in making college accessible and affordable for qualified students who are in need is really a direct investment in the state of New Jersey and our communities,” Conway said. “It results in higher income, better life, increase in customer spending and participation in our economic health of the state, and we just really believe that this program will help a lot of families that are in need.”
She also said supporting students in terms of tuition is the first step in creating a more centralized support system for students at Rutgers. The University is also working to further support students in ensuring their academic success through extending both general and academic advising.
The goal is for students to have the appropriate support and tools to be able to better plan out their four years without being delayed in completing their time at the University, Conway said.
“Other efforts will be taken in New Brunswick to ensure that our students have a very smooth and a successful experience here,” she said. “So, I'm really excited about that. And hopefully, there will be more to come on that front, but this is just the first step.”
