Statement of NJ’s Community Colleges on the FY26 State Budget

Aaron Fichtner, President

Maria Heidkamp, Chief Innovation and Policy Officer

www.njcommunitycolleges.org or (609) 392-3434

On June 30, the Legislature passed the FY 2026 state budget—signed by Governor Murphy—which restores $20 million in critical operating aid for New Jersey’s community colleges and includes a key investment in the Summer Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) program.
 
This budget investment will help ensure that our community colleges can continue to strengthen our communities, create opportunities for economic and social mobility for our students, and power our state’s economy.
 
The New Jersey Council of County Colleges thanks Senate President Scutari, Assembly Speaker Coughlin, the Chairs and Members of the Senate and Assembly Budget Committees, other Members of the State Legislature, and Governor Murphy for recognizing that our 18 community colleges play a foundational role in New Jersey, providing affordable, high quality education and workforce training to 240,000 students of all ages and backgrounds each year.
 
The Council also thanks the broad coalition of business partners, community-based organizations, policy advocates, educational leaders, local government leaders, and community college presidents, trustees, leaders, students, and alumni who came together to express their support for our colleges in the state budget.
 
As the new fiscal year gets underway, we look forward to continuing our work with state government leaders and our broad coalition of partners to expand economic and educational opportunities for all New Jerseyans.