Ocean County College received a $272,364 Project Grant award dated September 25, 2025, from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education under the TRIO Student Support Services program (CFDA 84.042). The award supports a five-year initiative (through September 24, 2026, with continuation subject to annual review and fund availability) to deliver comprehensive supportive services to disadvantaged college students at the institution's Toms River, New Jersey campus. These services include on-campus tutoring, academic advising, career counseling, financial aid assistance, and educational workshops designed to enhance student retention and graduation rates.
The program targets low-income students, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities, with additional focus on limited English proficient students, historically underrepresented populations, and other disconnected student populations. Through this funding, Ocean County College will work to increase the number of disadvantaged students who successfully complete their postsecondary programs, facilitate student transfers from two-year to four-year institutions, improve financial and economic literacy, and foster an institutional climate that supports equitable student success across all demographics.