Application Process for EOF Students
Freshmen
The Educational Opportunity Fund is an access program for New Jersey residents only.
Submit your application online and make sure to choose Yes to the question “Do you want to be considered for the Educational Opportunity Fund”.
After you submit the application, you will see instructions for paying the $65 non-refundable application fee (or submitting a fee waiver request) on your status page. If you are applying to a program with an audition fee (Dance, Music, Music Therapy, Musical Theatre, or Theatre), you will also see your audition fee listed on your status page. If you are eligible for a fee waiver after answering the fee waiver question on the Certifications and Signature page of your application, both your application fee and audition fee will be waived.
There are two ways to apply:
or 
Submit an official high school transcript and letter of recommendation from your counselor. Please mail or fax your materials to us:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue, Cole Hall
Montclair, NJ 07043
Fax: 973-655-7700
You may also submit an unofficial transcript for an admissions decision but your final official transcript will be required for enrollment. Upload your unofficial transcript in your application portal at apply.montclair.edu/portal/admissions
For most majors, a recommendation letter is not required but is strongly encouraged.
Please note that Dance, Musical Theatre, and Theatre majors require two recommendation letters. One of your recommendation letters should speak to your candidacy for your field of study.
Complete and upload your Essay/Personal Statement. You will be able to upload your essay/personal statement prior to submitting your application. Essay prompts vary by major. You can view your major’s essay prompt here.
If you wish to submit a resume or list of extracurricular activities you’ve participated in for review, you can upload this document in your application or on your status page after submitting your application. Please note that a resume is required for Dance, Musical Theatre, and Theatre majors, but optional for all other programs.
A financial review is required for EOF applicants. You must obtain and submit income verification documents such as tax returns, social security statements, public assistance statements, or court/state records verifying status as ward of state or orphan. You may upload your documents after you submit your application on your admissions portal. You may also email them to eofdocs@montclair.edu or mail your documents to us. Include your full name on the envelope with your documents and send it to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The quickest ways to ensure your documents have been processed are to upload them yourself through your admissions portal.
Fall 2025 EOF Applicants:
- Submit your 2025-2026 FAFSA Application
- Upload or email 2022 AND 2023 tax documents
NOTE: Non-tax filers must provide a Non-Filing Statement and a Verification of Non-Filing Letter from the IRS:
- Non-Filing Statement
- Verification of Non-Filing Letter
- To access the Verification of Non-Filling Letter, please visit this IRS website, click on “Get Transcript Online” and follow the remaining instructions on that page.
Official SAT or ACT scores are optional. If you are submitting ACT scores, you must also take the optional writing portion of the test. Students submitting SAT scores should enter our CEEB code (002520). Students submitting ACT scores should enter our ACT school code (2572).
College of the Arts Requirements
The Art and Design, Dance, Music, Theatre, and Filmmaking programs in the College of the Arts require you to complete an interview, audition or portfolio review in order to be considered for admission. Once your application for admission is complete, you will receive an email with information about how to schedule an interview, audition or portfolio review.
Links to College of the Arts admission guidelines and audition/interview/portfolio review dates can be found on the College of the Arts site.
Please note, admission to Montclair State University does not guarantee acceptance into the program of your choice.
Freshman Admission Standards
Montclair State University considers a number of factors in reviewing admissions applications. Well-qualified candidates for admission have a 3.2 or higher cumulative high school GPA on an un-weighted, 4.0 scale, a challenging course load (particularly in junior and senior years), and a variety of extracurricular activities. Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required, but, if you chose to submit those scores, they will be considered in the admissions process.
Applicants for admission are expected to complete a minimum of 16 units of college preparatory courses as follows:
- Four units of English.
- Three units of mathematics (including Algebra, Geometry and Algebra II).
- Two units of the same foreign language.
- Two units of a laboratory science.
- Two units of social sciences.
- Three additional units in any of the subject areas listed.
Students are recognized in the admissions process for pursuing a challenging curriculum beyond the minimum requirements including:
- Mathematics beyond Algebra II.
- A third or fourth year of the same foreign language.
- Honors courses.
- Laboratory science beyond chemistry.
- Advanced Placement courses.
Other factors considered in our holistic review process include: strong letters of recommendation from teachers and/or counselors; a well-written, thoughtful admissions essay; and a commitment to extracurricular engagement, both in school and in the community.
To watch our EOF Webinar and other Webinars we’ve hosted, subscribe to our Undergraduate Admissions YouTube Channel.
Transfers
A transfer student is anyone who has been enrolled in a regionally accredited college or university after graduating from high school. Even if you withdrew from the institution and received no credit, you should still complete the application for transfer admission.
Complete and submit the application for transfer students. Make sure to choose Yes to the question “Do you want to be considered for the Educational Opportunity Fund”.
After you complete the application, you will see instructions for paying the $65 non-refundable application fee (or submitting a fee waiver request). Then you will be able to submit your application for review.
College Transcripts
Transfer students are required to submit an official transcript from ALL regionally accredited colleges and/or universities previously attended. Official transcripts must be sent to us directly from your previous college. Transcripts sent by students are not official. Please contact your previous college to have them send your official transcript. Official transcripts may be sent electronically to transfermsu@montclair.edu or via mail to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Montclair State University
1 Normal Avenue, Dickson Hall
Montclair, NJ 07043
You may also submit an unofficial transcript for an admissions decision but your final official transcript will be required for enrollment. Upload your unofficial transcript in your application portal at apply.montclair.edu/portal/admissions
High School Transcript
All transfer students must submit an official high school transcript. This requirement is waived for applicants who have completed or will have completed an associate’s degree, or students who have completed 60 or more college-level credits at a four-year institution.
Essays are optional for most transfer applicants, however, certain majors require students to submit specific essay(s). You can view majors that require essays and their essay prompts here.
If you wish to submit a resume or list of extracurricular activities you’ve participated in for review, you can upload this document in your application or on your status page after submitting your application. Please note that a resume is required for Dance, Musical Theatre, and Theatre majors, but optional for all other programs.
For students who are enrolled in the EOF Program at their current institution:
- Request that the EOF Office at your current school submits an EOF Transfer of Aid Form. This form is required to complete your admissions application to receive an admission decision. The EOF Transfer of Aid Form is documentation that you are enrolled and in good standing in the EOF program at your current school. This can be submitted either electronically to msuadm@montclair.edu or via mail to:
- Montclair State University
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
1 Normal Ave
Montclair, NJ 07043
- Montclair State University
For students who are not enrolled in the EOF Program at their current institution:
- A financial review is required for EOF applicants. After submitting your application, you must complete the EOF Questionnaire which will appear in your application checklist online. Additionally, you must obtain and submit income verification documents such as tax returns, social security statements, public assistance statements, or court/state records verifying status as ward of state or orphan. You may upload your documents as part of your application (the upload area is located on the bottom of the Educational Opportunity Fund tab of your application) or after your submit your application on your status page. You may also email them to eofdocs@montclair.edu or mail your documents to us. Include your full name on envelope with your documents and send to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The quickest ways to ensure your documents have been processed are to upload them yourself through your application or status page.
Fall 2025 EOF Applicants:
- Submit your 2025-2026 FAFSA Application
- Upload or email 2022 AND 2023 tax documents
NOTE: Non-tax filers must provide a Non-Filing Statement:
Transfer Admission Standards
We review each application individually. However, when considering an applicant for transfer admission, strong candidates for admission generally meet the following criteria:
- A sustained, rigorous academic curriculum with an overall “B” average.
- A demonstrated interest in intended major by displaying academic success in the courses taken.
If you have attended more than one regionally accredited college or university, the grade point average from all schools will be considered.
Specific Admissions Requirements by College/School
In addition to our general Transfer Admission Standards, certain programs have their own specific standards for admission. For more information, visit our admissions requirements page.
To watch our EOF Webinar and other Webinars we’ve hosted, subscribe to our Undergraduate Admissions YouTube Channel.