NJ community colleges facing budget cuts get $20 million in funds restored by state

HACKENSACK — The state's community colleges are breathing a sigh of relief after a potential $20 million state budget cut was restored.

For Bergen Community College, the cut would have resulted in a $1.8 million loss, which would have led to a tuition increase for its students, said college President Eric M. Friedman.

Other community colleges faced similar scenarios.

The Bergen County school is the state's largest community college in the state and serves more than 20,000 credit and non-credit students a year in programs including cyber security, nursing and advanced manufacturing. Tuition and fees are about $7,500 a year, Friedman said.

“Bergen Community College students encounter innumerable pressures as they seek to earn a college degree that enhances their social and economic mobility,” Friedmann said. “It is on us as leaders to ease burdens that may disrupt students’ progress to earning a degree."

Friedman and Bergen County Executive James Tedesco spoke in support of community colleges back in March during the state Senate's public budget hearing held at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark.

"I am grateful for our Bergen County government partners who consistently advocate on our students’ behalf, including Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III, whose passionate testimony before the State Senate budget committee gave voice to the thousands of New Jersey community college students who can least afford additional barriers to their education.”

The 2025 fiscal year budget now includes over $290 million in aid to community colleges. If the funding wasn't restored, it would bring funding for the college back to the 2002 level, which he called disappointing for students who are trying to get an education and be productive in the workforce, Tedesco previously said.

“I commend the Legislature and the Governor’s Office for working together to come to this agreement and restore this crucial funding,” Tedesco said. “Community colleges offer our students an affordable pathway to undergraduate degrees. With this sustained level of funding, Bergen Community College will be able to continue its mission as the State’s top-ranked community college, allowing us to better serve Bergen County’s residents and expand access to higher and continuing education.”