HESAA, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, is the only New Jersey state agency with the sole mission of providing students and families with financial and informational resources for students to pursue their education beyond high school. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority provides many merit and need-based programs. Merit-based programs include the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship, while need-based programs include many awards, such as the Survivor Tuition Benefits Program.
The Governor's Urban Scholarship is a merit-based award for students ranked within the top 5% of their high school class and who have a minimum 3.0 GPA at the end of their junior year. The award is renewable up to four years and provides students with a persistency bonus in their last semester before degree completion. To be eligible for this award, students must reside in eligible communities (see website).