NJ Awards $250K in Innovation Dual Enrollment Grants

On Nov 12, 2025

The New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) and the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced the third round of Innovation Dual Enrollment Program grants, awarding $250,000 from the Fiscal Year 2026 State Budget across four school districts to expand access to college-level coursework for high school students, particularly from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

This cycle of grants will support partnerships between accredited New Jersey institutions of higher education and school districts serving Camden, Keyport, Manville, and Paterson where at least 40% of students in grades 9 through 12 are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

“Dual enrollment is a powerful tool for closing equity gaps and preparing students for success beyond high school,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “By expanding access to college courses while students are still in high school, we’re helping families save money and giving students exposure and a head start on their college journey.”

“NJBIA and the New Jersey Council of County Colleges have long-supported dual enrollment agreements that offer college-level coursework to high school students,” added NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs Althea D. Ford. “Dual enrollment not only reduces the time and cost of obtaining a college degree, it also challenges high school students, improves college completion rates and ultimately helps meet employer demand for a highly skilled and trained workforce.”

The grants for fiscal year 2026 build on two previous cycles, which awarded a total of $1 million to support partnerships in seven school districts, including Burlington City Public School District, Hillside Public School District, Keyport Public School District, Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School District, Orange Board of Education School District, Passaic City Public School District, and Vineland Public School District.

In the first year, participating students completed more than 1,136 dual enrollment courses and collectively earned 3,554 college credits, saving their families over $290,000 in tuition and fees. Grants from the second year are still being implemented to support over 980 dually enrolled students.

“We’re proud to see the measurable impact of New Jersey’s growing focus on higher education on-ramps through dual enrollment,” said Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges. “These grants are helping more students gain access to college courses that reduce their time to degree but also build confidence and the academic skills critical to postsecondary and later career success.”

Following the release of the Dual Enrollment Study Commission Report and a statewide focus on closing opportunity gaps, participation in dual enrollment continues to grow. According to the federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, more than 44,000 high school students earned college credit from New Jersey colleges and universities in the 2023-24 academic year, marking a nearly 11% increase over the previous year. Participation among economically disadvantaged 11th and 12th grade students also rose by 3%, according to the New Jersey School Performance Reports.

“All 18 of our community colleges know the vital role dual enrollment plays in increasing the likelihood of high school graduation and improving college and credential access, affordability, and completion, especially for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education,” said Dr. Aaron Fichtner, president of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. “We are pleased that this pilot will help more New Jersey high school students access dual enrollment at four of our community colleges, and we look forward to turning the initiative’s success into the basis for a statewide program.”

The grant awards for Fiscal Year 2026 are as follows:

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