NJ A1346

Secretary of Higher Education would establish a guaranteed admissions program offering automatic conditional admission to New Jersey public colleges and universities for eligible 12th-grade public school students based on academic merit.

Eligibility requires New Jersey residency for at least one year prior to application and first-time applicant status for a full-time undergraduate degree program.

Academic merit criteria include cumulative GPA and class rank through grade 11, coursework rigor (honors, AP, IB, college-level courses), standardized test scores, and state assessment performance.

Different admission thresholds may be set for each institution based on selectivity, and guaranteed admission does not extend to specific majors or specialized programs.

Secretary must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature with demographic data on admitted students, program effectiveness regarding out-migration and underserved populations, and improvement recommendations.