Admissions & Eligibility Procedures

What Is the EOF Program?        

The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) provides financial assistance and support services (e.g. counseling, tutoring, developmental course work) to students from educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds who attend institutions of higher education in the State of New Jersey. The EOF Program is not an entitlement program. Initial EOF Eligibility is determined on the basis of both economic and educational criteria. Because a student or a student's family currently falls within the income criteria does not make the student automatically eligible for EOF. Although students may qualify for the program, admission criteria give priority to first-time, full-time freshmen and to EOF transfer students in good standing from another EOF Program. Grants are generally available to students from families with a background of poverty, whose annual income falls within the scale listed below .

Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for an Educational Opportunity Fund Grant, a student must:

• Be a United States Citizen or have a permanent Visa, AND you must be a legal resident of New Jersey for at least one year prior to enrollment.
• You must receive a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma by the time you register for college.
• Enroll or be enrolled as a full-time student(12 or more credits) in a curriculum leading to a degree certificate.
• Exhibit evidence of financial need and an educational background indicating a need for improvement in basic skills.
• You and/or your family must meet the income guidelines listed on the chart.

Income Eligibility Guidelines
Maximum Income for Eligibility*

Academic Year 2006-2007
Gross Family Income Does Not Exceed	Applicants With a Household Size of
$25,660	Two (including student)
$32,180	Three (including student)
$38,700	Four (including student)
$45,220	Five (including student)
$51,740	Six (including student)
$58,260	Seven (including student)
$64,780	Eight (including student)

*For each additional member of the household, add $6,520.

How do I apply to become an EOF student?

Bergen Community College students, who wish to apply to the EOF program should:

	File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
	Contact the EOF Program for an EOF application.
	EOF needs: Proof of income(Federal Taxes) High School Diploma Alien Resident Card (if applicable)
	Be interviewed by an EOF counselor, who will notify the student of their eligibility and acceptance status.

Financial Assistance

EOF students receive two grants from the state of New Jersey , EOF grant and the Tuition Aid Grant(TAG). In addition to these two grants students that qualify are eligible to receive further assistance from the federal government and assistance from Bergen Community College. For more information on financial assistance, please visit the Bergen Community College  financial aid office.

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