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Climb to Success Scholarship

Kean University's affordable world-class education is now even more accessible to the region's best and brightest students. Kean has the most affordable tuition at a comprehensive university in New Jersey, and our graduates enter the workforce with less debt than the national average. We are able to achieve this by ensuring that our students are empowered through financial aid and university-funded awards, such as the Climb to Success Scholarship.   

While we offer many different scholarship opportunities to our incoming freshmen, what makes this one unique is the fact that in addition to academic performance, it considers the often-crucial factor of financial need. Best of all, other than the application for admission, the only “application” necessary for consideration is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

A limited number of these awards are available annually. Candidacy is reviewed and determined by Kean University, based on the FAFSA application and high school transcripts. To secure a Climb to Success Scholarship offer, the enrollment deposit and the FAFSA application must be received by May 1. In addition, there may be one-time awards granted to continuing and/or transfer students on a case-by-case basis based on availability of residual funds.  

Climb to Success Fund Scholarship  

  • $16,000 over four years (8 consecutive full-time semesters) 

  • High School (unweighted) GPA range minimum 3.0  

  • Need-based scholarship based on annual household income, as determined by FAFSA and Kean University*  

Renewal Requirements: 

  • Annual completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by May 1 

  • 3.0 Cumulative GPA 

  • Full-time enrollment for four years (8 consecutive semesters)  

* Financial eligibility is based upon an annual household income of $80,000 or less, as reported on the FAFSA, and verified by the Kean University Office of Financial Aid.  

Please note: 

FAFSA filing is not required for undocumented students, international students, or special circumstances. Scholarship awards have no cash value. We reserve the right to reduce the scholarship amount if the total of all federal, state, and other grant/scholarship awards exceeds the direct costs, defined as tuition, university fees, and on-campus room and board, if applicable.