William Paterson University of New Jersey received a $272,364 Project Grant award from the Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education on September 25, 2025, under the TRIO Student Support Services program (CFDA 84.042). The award, which extends through September 24, 2026, funds supportive services designed to enhance retention and graduation rates for disadvantaged college students, including low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. The university will deliver on-campus academic support services such as tutoring, academic advising, career counseling, and financial aid assistance to eligible students at its Wayne, New Jersey campus.
The TRIO Student Support Services program aims to increase the number of disadvantaged students who successfully complete postsecondary education programs and facilitate their transfer from two-year to four-year institutions. William Paterson's award represents one of two parallel TRIO Student Support Services grants the university received in September 2025, with this award designated as the general track (the complementary award focuses on STEM-focused student support). Individual awards under this program typically serve 100–300 students per institution annually and are structured as five-year grants with annual continuation awards subject to fund availability and demonstrated progress.