Kean Tuition Promise Program Supports Low-income Students

To further its mission of academic excellence and equity, Kean University created a new Kean Tuition Promise program to provide low-income New Jersey students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree at little or no cost and fulfill their dreams of a college education. 

Together the Kean Tuition Promise and the state's Garden State Guarantee program provide qualified New Jersey students with a world-class Kean education at no cost.

The Kean Tuition Promise program aims to break down longstanding barriers to postsecondary education, which have perpetuated educational attainment gaps by race, socioeconomic status and region. 

"Through this program, we hope to change the lives of deserving New Jersey students who, because of their financial situation, believe that college is out of the question," said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. "We invite New Jersey's best and brightest students to apply and climb higher at Kean. Everyone deserves an equal shot at earning a college degree, and this program makes that possible.”

The program’s limited number of scholarship and grant packages will cover up to full tuition and fees across the first two years of study for select students who apply as freshmen and meet eligibility requirements:

• Be an incoming college freshman starting in the Fall 2022 semester; and
• A family adjusted gross income of under $65,000 annually; and 
• Residency in New Jersey for at least one year before the first day of class; and
• Students must take 15 credits per semester to be eligible

The program is open to U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens starting as freshmen at Kean in Fall 2022. The funding does not need to be repaid after graduation.

The state's Garden State Guarantee, which was signed into law by Gov. Murphy, will cover a qualified student's remaining balance of tuition and fees for their third and fourth years of study after all other outside aid is used. Full coverage is available at the same level of $65,000 in family adjusted gross income and some coverage is available through $80,000 in family adjusted gross income.

“Kean has a long tradition of providing a world-class, affordable college education,” said Marsha McCarthy, vice president for enrollment services. “This program expands on that tradition by providing support across a student’s entire educational journey. It’s possible for these talented students to graduate with little to no college debt. Being able to start your career without debt is remarkable.”

McCarthy said Kean already offers the lowest tuition of any four-year institution in New Jersey, but affording college remains a struggle for many families.

“The Kean Tuition Promise program will be a game changer for some students,” she said. “It is one more innovation from Kean University in its mission to open the doors of higher education to students.”

Interested students should apply to Kean by April 15 and submit their FAFSA form to Kean using the code 002622. Kean’s offices of Admissions and Financial Aid will review the eligibility of each applicant. Use the code KEANPROMISE to waive the $75 application fee for the admission application on Kean’s website. The code won’t work on the common application. 

For more information, visit Kean’s Tuition Promise Scholarship webpage or email admissions questions to admitme@kean.edu with the subject line: Kean Tuition Promise.