NJCPA Opens 2026–27 Scholarships and School Grants for Accounting Students

The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants is opening two routes to support the state’s accounting pipeline: scholarships for students and grants for high school accounting programs. The awards range from $1,500 to $7,500 for students, while eligible high schools can apply for $2,000 grants for classroom resources.

The NJCPA Scholarship Fund says its awards are supported by the Deloitte Foundation, NJCPA members and other contributors. Applications are open to New Jersey high school seniors planning to study accounting and to students at New Jersey colleges or universities at several stages of their accounting education. The high school grant program is in its second year.

Scholarships follow students through different stages

For high school seniors, the program offers $1,500 scholarships to students intending to major in accounting or pursue an accounting concentration at a two-year or four-year institution. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2. Students who have taken standardized tests can also qualify with a minimum score of 1260 on the SAT or 26 on the ACT.

Recipients also receive a connection to an NJCPA mentor. That support can help students navigate college coursework and learn about the accounting profession and the CPA Exam. The mentorship component gives the award a professional guidance element alongside its financial support, though the source does not specify how often students meet with mentors or how long the relationship lasts.

High school scholarship applications are due Dec. 7, 2026, through njcpa.org/scholarships.

College awards are structured around students’ progress and plans for the next academic stage. Community college sophomores, or second-year students, who intend to continue at a New Jersey four-year college in the fall are eligible to apply for $2,000 scholarships. They must have completed at least three accounting credits by the end of the fall 2026 semester and be on track to complete six accounting credits by the end of the spring 2027 semester.

The larger college awards target students nearing advanced study. Accounting majors entering their senior year at a New Jersey college or university, as well as seniors planning to enroll in an accounting-related graduate program in New Jersey, can apply for $7,500 scholarships. These applicants must have completed at least 12 accounting credits by the end of the spring 2027 semester.

College applicants must be New Jersey residents and have a 3.2 GPA by the end of the fall 2026 semester. Applications are due Jan. 8, 2027, at njcpa.org/scholarships. The credit thresholds and deadlines make academic timing a central part of eligibility, particularly for students transferring from a community college or preparing to enter graduate study.

Selection includes academic and personal review

The selection process considers academic performance, standardized test scores, an essay of 450–500 words and personal interviews. Students should review the full eligibility requirements and application instructions before applying at njcpa.org/scholarships. The source does not identify how many awards are available or the total value of this year’s scholarship distribution, so the individual award amounts do not establish the program’s overall funding scale.

“Many accounting professionals, including myself, have started on their accounting journey because of these scholarships. It’s wonderful to be part of such a valuable program and encourage the next generation of CPAs,” said Tara M. Baldwin, CPA, president of the NJCPA Scholarship Fund and a manager at WilkinGuttenplan.

High schools can seek classroom funding

Schools have a separate application path. The NJCPA Scholarship Fund is offering New Jersey high schools $2,000 grants to help pay for accounting textbooks, curriculum materials, software and learning tools, as well as office visits. The funding is intended to add resources to high school accounting programs, where exposure to coursework and career options can begin before students choose a college major.

High school administrators can apply at njcpa.org/grants by either of two deadlines: Nov. 30, 2026, or March 30, 2027. The two dates provide opportunities to apply in the fall or spring. The source does not detail how many schools will receive grants, how proposals will be assessed or whether schools may apply more than once.

Together, the student scholarships and classroom grants address different points in the path into accounting. Scholarships provide direct financial awards and, for high school recipients, a professional mentor; school grants support materials and learning experiences at the program level. For applicants, the next step is to match their academic standing and location to the relevant criteria, then work back from the applicable deadline.