FEDERAL HIGHER ED CUTS THREATEN LOCAL INSTITUTIONS
“Cuts to Pell Grants would force students to take on greater debt or abandon their educational goals
altogether. We also risk losing research funding that fuels our economy.”
TRENTON, NJ – Proposed federal cuts to higher education would have a devastating impact on South
Jersey’s economy and students, particularly at Rowan University, Rowan College of South Jersey
(RCSJ), and Salem Community College—the institutions in New Jersey’s Third Legislative District
where more than half of students are first-generation college students.
This according to testimony heard by higher education stakeholders at a Joint Senate and Assembly Higher Education Committee Hearing Monday, March 10 in the New Jersey State House.
Assemblywoman Heather Simmons (D-Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland) represented the Third District at the hearing, which focused on regional consequences of a proposed $330 billion federal cut to higher education funding nationwide.
Simmons said she and her Third District partners Senator John Burzichelli and Assemblyman Dave Bailey, Jr. are collaborating with their legislative colleagues to explore state-level solutions to address potential federal cuts and protect New Jersey student access to financial aid, research funding, and workforce development programs. “We must be ready to advocate for our institutions and students if federal cuts move forward,” said Simmons, a member of the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
“Protecting access to higher education and ensuring affordable education and workforce development options remain priorities. These institutions do more than educate—they are anchors in our communities, driving local economies and creating jobs. We will explore all avenues to support our region’s higher education institutions.”
Proposed cuts to federal Pell Grants and student loan programs would force students to take on more debt or abandon their education altogether. More than 160,000 New Jersey students rely on Pell Grants to afford higher education. At Salem Community College, 52% of students receive Pell Grants, and 21% rely on Tuition Aid Grants (TAG). At Rowan University, over 40% of degree-seeking undergraduates receive federal or state aid. At RCSJ, more than 80% of students receive some form of financial aid, including Pell Grants and state aid. Cuts to these programs would increase student debt and make higher education unaffordable for many working- and middle-class families in South Jersey. “If these cuts go through, we could see a sharp rise in student loan debt and a decline in college enrollment,” Simmons warned. “For many South Jersey families, this would put a college education out of reach.”
The impact extends beyond financial aid. Rowan University relies heavily on federal research funding— more than $630 million went to New Jersey institutions in 2023 alone from agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cuts to this funding would stall research and harm the state’s competitiveness in key industries. Federal support is also critical to workforce development. RCSJ’s Cumberland and Gloucester campuses depend on federal Perkins CTE funding to train students for high-demand jobs. In FY 2024, New Jersey received over $29 million in Perkins funding. Cuts would threaten these programs and leave students without the skills needed to compete in the job market.
“Rowan University, Salem, and RCSJ are economic anchors in the Third District,” Simmons added. “Weakening them would ripple through the entire region—hurting students, businesses, and local economies.”
The hearing included testimony from leaders at Rutgers, Rowan, Brookdale, and the NJ Council of County Colleges. Simmons vowed to keep fighting for New Jersey’s students and institutions at both the state and federal levels.