With Kean Jersey City set to officially debut on Wednesday, New Jersey City University and Kean University, the two merging colleges, have secured a total of $90,412,000 from the state’s $60.7 billion budget that was introduced Monday night.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, upon the
merger of New Jersey City University and Kean University, all amounts herein above
appropriated to, as well as State-funded positions at, New Jersey City University are
hereby transferred to Kean University, for the same purposes,” the state budget says.
The New Jersey spending plan for fiscal year 2026-2027 has a total of $32,853,000 earmarked for NJCU – which has 1,129 state-funded positions – with another $57,565,000 set aside for Kean – which has 1,074 state-funded positions.
The NJCU Board of Trustees voted “to pursue a strategic merger” with Kean in March 2025, to the delight of then-Gov. Phil Murphy (D), before the two schools signed a letter of intent two months later, all as HCV first reported.
NJCU President Andrés Acebo, who called Murphy signing a bill formalizing their merger just before he left office at the beginning of the year “a defining moment,” expressed enthusiasm about support from the state.
He thanked Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D), state Senate President Nick Scutari (D-22), Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D-29), Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19), as well as the Hudson County delegation, Jersey City Mayor James Solomon, Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, and the Hudson County commissioners for their support.
“The work before us was never easy, but it was always worthy. Together, we confronted extraordinary challenges with courage, conviction, and a shared commitment to the students and communities who depend upon public higher education as a pathway to opportunity,” Acebo expressed.
“Because of that collective leadership, we have done more than preserve an institution—we have secured its mission for its second century. We have ensured that this campus will continue to stand as a beacon of opportunity, educational excellence, and social mobility for generations yet to come in Hudson County.”
He also offered his “heartfelt gratitude” to Kean President Lamon Repollet for “safeguarding a rich and indispensable mission” of providing affordable public higher education for generations to come.
