New Jersey Certified Public Accountants High School Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by New Jersey Certified Public Accountants

Intro
The NJCPA Scholarship Fund provides one-year scholarships of $1,500 to New Jersey high school seniors who plan to pursue an accounting major or an accounting concentration that requires at least 24 accounting credits. Along with the financial award, scholarship recipients from high school will be paired with NJCPA mentors who can offer guidance during college on coursework, the accounting profession and preparation for the CPA exam. The mentoring program’s goal is to support and develop the next generation of accounting professionals.

Essay requirement
- Prepare a 450–500 word essay responding to: “By citing personal examples, what inspired you to choose accounting?”
- Paste your essay into the online application. Do not include any identifying information (your name, school, etc.) within the essay.
- Essays will be evaluated on: adherence to the length requirement, originality of content, demonstrated commitment to becoming a CPA, and grammar, language and organization.
- An outstanding essay will clearly and completely answer the prompt, be unique, creative and engaging, use sophisticated vocabulary and structure, and show an excellent understanding of the accounting profession and enthusiasm for a CPA career.

Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a college-bound high school senior who intends to major in accounting or pursue an accounting concentration that includes no fewer than 24 accounting credits.
- Be either a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted permanent resident and a New Jersey resident enrolled in a New Jersey public, parochial/private or home school high school.
- Meet one of the academic minimums:
- A cumulative three-year GPA of 3.2 or higher; OR
- A combined SAT (Evidence-Based Reading & Writing + Math) score of at least 1260; OR
- A composite ACT score of at least 26.
- Plan to begin college in the upcoming fall semester. Applicants intending to start at a two-year college must also provide a signed letter of intent (student and parent/legal guardian) stating they plan to transfer to a four-year institution to complete an accounting bachelor’s degree or an accounting concentration requiring at least 24 accounting credits.

Application components and deadline
All required materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on December 8, 2025. A complete application includes:
1. The online application form with all required fields finished.
2. The 450–500 word essay entered in the online application and free of identifying information.
3. A Guidance Department Form that lists the student’s GPA and standardized test score and includes the guidance counselor’s printed name and signature. This form must be submitted to NJCPA by the student’s guidance counselor via mail, email or fax.
4. A copy of SAT or ACT score results (mailed, emailed or faxed). A screenshot of official score results is acceptable.

All parts must arrive by the deadline for the application to be considered complete. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt within three business days after submission, it is the applicant’s responsibility to contact NJCPA to verify delivery.

Selection process and interview
- Finalists will be notified by January 5, 2026.
- All finalists must participate in a brief virtual interview scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026. No alternate interview dates will be offered.

Inquiries
Questions regarding eligibility, the application process or selection should be directed to the NJCPA Student Programs and Scholarship Committee. The committee’s decisions are final. General questions about the scholarship program can be emailed to Pam Isenburg.

Notification of winners
Recipients will be informed in early March 2026. A list of scholarship awardees will be posted at njcpa.org/scholarship.

Duplicate awards
If receiving this NJCPA scholarship would cause the recipient to lose another outside award, the Student Programs and Scholarship Committee, upon request by the recipient, may reduce or withdraw the NJCPA award.

Award disbursement and conditions
Scholarship funds of $1,500 will be paid directly to the college or university. Disbursement is contingent on receipt of a completed Scholarship Activation Form.