NJ STARS

Not sure what you want to study? You’re not alone. Lots of students start college still figuring it out.

Your Student Services Specialist can help you explore career paths and choose a major that fits your goals. We've categorized our majors into nine Guided Pathways that can help you determine your college concentration.

Want to start on your own? Try our free online tool Career Coach to match your interests with real jobs and salaries. 

Explore Career Coach

Explore Atlantic Cape's Guided Pathways

Applying is free and it’s the first step toward your future.

You can fill out the application at home, on your phone, or at a kiosk on campus.

Just visit atlanticcape.edu/apply to get started.

Good news: We’re an open enrollment college, which means you’re in.

Apply Now

Once you apply, you’ll get a go-to person to walk you through the rest when you visit our campuses.

They’ll help with everything from placement testing to choosing classes.

If you don’t have SAT, ACT, or transcripts, we may ask you to take a placement test.

No stress. It’s not pass or fail. It just helps us place you in the right course.

Testing Center

College costs less than you think, especially with financial aid.

Filling out the FAFSA is free and it’s the key to grants, state aid, and even tuition-free college.

Start your FAFSA at studentaid.gov and use Atlantic Cape’s school code: 002596. 

Not a U.S. citizen? No problem - you may still qualify for financial aid through New Jersey. Just complete the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application instead of the FAFSA.

Need help? We’ve got you. Just ask your Specialist or stop by the One-Stop.

Start FAFSA

Visit our Financial Aid department

Now it’s time to build your schedule.

You can register online through your Atlantic Cape Connect portal via the Self Service card or meet with your Specialist in person.

We’ll make sure you stay on track with your goals and have a schedule that works for your life.

Want to see the schedule for the upcoming semesters? Visit our Course Catalog & Class Schedules page. NOTE: Atlantic Cape Connect keeps the most up-to-date class schedules.

Register for Classes

Course Catalog & Class Schedules

To reserve your spot in class, you’ll need to make a payment, apply for aid, or set up a payment plan.

 If you apply for financial aid, payment is not due until your award is processed.

You can take care of it all through Atlantic Cape Connect or at the Bursar’s Office. Check out our Cost and Payments page for more information.

We accept all major cards, E-Check, and cash. Payment plans are available for fall and spring semesters.

Pay in Atlantic Cape Connect

• You must provide documentation that you are/were in the top 15.0% of their high school class at the end of either junior or senior year of high school. 
• You must provide a final High School transcript in order to confirm the year of high school graduation and that a diploma was received.
• You must apply for all other federal and state financial aid available to them by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and completing their file with HESAA (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority) annually within New Jersey's deadline. 
• You and your parent(s)/legal guardian must be permanent New Jersey residents pursuant to regulations established by the state at the time of high school graduation and upon college enrollment.
• You must also be a citizen, an eligible non-citizen, or are eligible to file the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application and must be a legal New Jersey resident for a minimum of twelve consecutive months prior to high school graduation.   
• You must demonstrate college readiness per the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges requirements and Atlantic Cape's degree requirements.  NJ STARS does not cover the cost of remedial coursework
• You must enroll full-time in a degree program at my home county college.  

Yes, this is a requirement. 

Students who meet the top 15 percent requirement must first apply for all other federal and state financial aid available to them by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete their file with HESAA (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority) annually within New Jersey's deadline. If a student receives financial aid, NJ STARS will cover the remaining cost of tuition. If a student is not eligible for financial aid, NJ STARS will cover the entire tuition.

• Students must take at least 12 college credits per semester and will be allowed to take up to 18 credits each semester if they are able to handle the course load and wish to accelerate their graduation.
• Students will be permitted to take fewer than 12 credits in their final semester if they need fewer than 12 credits to graduate.

• You must have a 3.0 or better grade point average moving from freshmen to sophomore years in college to be eligible for scholarship renewal for the second year. 
• You are permitted to use summer sessions to maintain a 3.0 GPA at a community college and will be responsible for the tuition and fees.

• Students have five (5) semesters of eligibility for NJ STARS.
• Students majoring in areas that require an additional 6th semester (for example: nursing and engineering) -- the student is responsible for paying for the additional semester and will still be eligible for STARS II.

• Dependent students of military families assigned to a military base and whose parents have established New Jersey as their state of residence will be eligible for NJ STARS as long as all other conditions are met.