International Merit Scholarships (first-year international students)
TCNJ has recently approved scholarship awards for qualified first-year, degree-seeking students who have been offered admission to the College. International students are considered ‘out-of-state’ students at TCNJ.
Eligibility: All first-year international students admitted for the fall are automatically reviewed for scholarship eligibility. Your eligibility is based on several factors including, but not limited to:
* the rigor of your curriculum
* academic performance (high school and/or university grades/marks)
* standardized test results (if submitted)
* recommendation letters from academic teachers
* application essay
* community service, honors, awards, and activities
Admitted students will be notified of their scholarship eligibility along with their acceptance package. These scholarships are renewable for up to four years.
How to apply: ["automatic review upon admission"]
📋 These scholarships are renewable for up to four years.
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Lions Legacy Award - in-state tuition
Out-of-State Requirements
ACT 23+ • SAT 1150+
TCNJ also offers a Lions Legacy Award to the children of alumni who graduated from TCNJ/TSC. Any legacy student who attends TCNJ from out-of-state and meets the academic criteria listed below will pay in-state tuition during their four consecutive years of study.
Eligibility: Any legacy student who attends TCNJ from out-of-state and meets the academic criteria listed below will pay in-state tuition during their four consecutive years of study.
Lions Legacy recipients must meet any one of the three following academic minimums:
* Rank in the top 30% of the student’s high school graduating class.
* 1150+ on a two-part (superscored) SAT
* 23+ on a composite (superscored) ACT
How to apply: ["legacy status (child of TCNJ/TSC alumni)", "meet any one of listed academic minimums"]
📋 pay in-state tuition during their four consecutive years of study
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Award amounts will be based on available institutional funds and the number of qualified candidates who successfully submit the FAFSA. Awards are designed to supplement a student’s current merit scholarship.
Eligibility: The College of New Jersey awards the Lions Pride Need Award to merit scholarship recipients among the incoming first-year class who demonstrate financial need. Students must submit the FAFSA by February 15th to be considered. The Office of Student Financial Assistance will work with the Office of Admissions to review FAFSA data before awarding this grant.
How to apply: ["submit FAFSA by February 15th"]
🔗 Awards are designed to supplement a student’s current merit scholarship.
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Award
$12,000/yr in-state
$12,000/yr out-of-state
Our largest Fall 2026 merit scholarship is the Presidential Scholarship, which has a maximum value of $12,000 per year. This scholarship may be granted to Fall 2026 applicants who submit their application by the priority scholarship deadline and fall in the top ten percent of their graduating class, following a careful and comprehensive review of their academic transcript.
Eligibility: This scholarship may be granted to Fall 2026 applicants who submit their application by the priority scholarship deadline and fall in the top ten percent of their graduating class, following a careful and comprehensive review of their academic transcript.
How to apply: ["no separate application is required", "submit application by priority scholarship deadline"]
Top 30% Merit Scholarship (priority)
Merit-based scholarships will be awarded to high-achieving, first-year applicants who submit an application before January 1, 2026 and demonstrate strong academic performance ranked in the top 30% of their high school graduating class.
Eligibility: First-year students that submit a Fall 2026 application to TCNJ by the January 1, 2026 priority scholarship deadline are automatically considered for all priority merit scholarships upon submission of their application. These awards are based on a holistic admissions evaluation of a student’s overall high school academic record (including the strength of curriculum/academic rigor, GPA, class rank, and strength of high school).
How to apply: ["no separate application is required"]