Unemployed Persons Tuition Waiver

What is it?

Bergen Community College, working with the New Jersey Department of Labor, offers a waiver of tuition to otherwise eligible, unemployed Bergen County residents.

Am I eligible?

You are eligible for tuition-free enrollment at Bergen Community College if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You are a resident of Bergen County.
• You have been in the labor market (full-time employment or active pursuit of full-time employment, or a combination of the two) for at least two years.
• You are unemployed or in receipt of a layoff notice.
• You complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using Bergen's federal code - 004736. 
• You have a New Jersey Department of Labor Unemployed Person Job Training (Tuition Waiver Program) form.
• You enroll in classes on the designated Tuition Waiver Registration day, usually the day before classes begin.

Notes:

1. Enrollment is on a space-available basis and you must register on the Tuition Waiver Registration day.
2. Only tuition can be waived - not fees; you must pay all applicable fees.
3. You must submit the state's Unemployed Person Job Training form each semester or summer session thirty days before the Tuition Waiver Registration day.
4. Tuition-free enrollment is offered only if federal and/or state financial aid does not cover tuition costs.
5. Consult the Tuition Waiver Registration booklet issued each semester for the designated registration date.

When must I file the FAFSA?

You must file your FAFSA by

June 1	for a fall semester waiver
October 1	for a spring semester waiver
April 1	for a summer session waiver

How does the process work?

To take advantage of an Unemployed Person Tuition Waiver from the Financial Aid Office, you must

1. First, register for your classes on the designated Tuition Waiver Registration day.
2. Have already completed and filed an appropriate year FAFSA
3. Take your tuition registration bill along with your Unemployed Person's Job Training form received from the Department of Labor to Room L-123. You will be issued an Unemployed Persons Tuition Waiver form.
4. Take your tuition registration bill, your Department of Labor form, and your Unemployed Persons Tuition Waiver form to the Bursars Office, Room A-229, and pay any required fees.  Note that fees must be paid within three (3) days following registration or your tuition waiver will expire and your registration will be cancelled.