Montclair State University Financial Aid

About Montclair State University

Montclair State, founded in 1908, was originally part of a New Jersey state initiative to develop a series of teacher’s colleges. Originally New Jersey State Normal School at Montclair, the school went through a few name changes, and as part of another statewide initiative to revamp higher ed, in 1992 the school became Montclair State University. 

Nestled in affluent suburbs right on the fringe of Hoboken and New York, Montclair State provides students with quick access to NYC without being crammed in the middle of Manhattan. The school has a train station on campus - the Montclair State University stop - and allows for easy access into the concrete jungle. While being near New York is awesome, being on campus is pretty great, too. About 14,000 undergrads roam the quads and buildings of Montclair State, and while that seems large, the school boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1 that makes it seem more like a small college than a large university.

Budgeting and Montclair State Financial Aid

If you’re receiving Montclair State financial aid, it’s very important to throw together a budget that considers all possible costs, and not just the big items like textbooks, a meal plan, and study materials. You’ll definitely be taking some trips into New York City, and you might even head into Newark or Hoboken (maybe you’ll go to see the Cake Boss) - wherever you wind up going, you’ll want to make sure you have some room in your budget for personal spending. Nothing’s worse than being on Montclair State University Financial aid and then exceeding your budget. You’re already tight on cash, so don’t hurt yourself by spending money you didn’t plan on spending.

Applying for Montclair State Financial Aid

Cue the usual spiel: Montclair State is a public school, so you just have to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). That’s easy. The data you provide on your FAFSA allows the federal government and the Montclair State UniversityFinancial Aid office to determine your financial need. You’ll hear back from them with an aid package with your first (or next) tuition bill. Also, whenever you apply (or reapply) for aid, it’s good to ask about any ‘free money’ awards you could be eligible for, such as institutional grants or scholarships. A dollar that you don’t have to borrow is a dollar saved.

Montclair State Financial Aid Packages

Again, this is pretty cut and dry: Montclair State University financial aid packages consist of grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and student loans. Boom. Some students get by without the loans, while others wind up taking the loans in their Montclair State University financial aid package and take out private student loans from a third-party lender. If you use up all sources of aid, from free money awards to federal loans, and find yourself short on cash to pay for Montclair State, consider a private student loan. To make sure you get the proper private student loan for you, check out our student loan comparison tool above. It lets you search, compare, and apply for loans to supplement your Montclair State University financial aid package.