Joe Bertolino, Ed.D., President | Stockton University
+ Commerce
New Jersey Review | Sep 8, 2025

Stockton University renews transfer pathway partnership with Brookdale Community College

Stockton University and Brookdale Community College have renewed their Transfer Pathways program, a partnership first established in 2018 to help students move from Brookdale’s two-year programs to Stockton’s four-year bachelor’s degree offerings.

The agreement allows students who complete an associate degree at Brookdale to transfer automatically to Stockton with junior standing. Application fees for eligible students will be waived. In addition, those who complete at least 45 credits at Brookdale and accumulate 64 credits between both institutions can receive a retroactive associate degree from Brookdale.

Brookdale President David Stout, a Stockton alumnus, said, “Brookdale is proud to continue and expand our strong partnership with Stockton University. Together, we are opening doors for our students by creating seamless pathways that lower costs, shorten time to degree and provide unique hands-on learning experiences like Stockton’s Live-Work-Learn program. These opportunities not only help our students achieve their academic goals but also prepare them to thrive in New Jersey’s workforce and communities.”

A new element of the agreement gives Brookdale students access to Stockton’s Live-Work-Learn Atlantic City Summer Experience after completing two semesters. According to Stockton President Joe Bertolino, “The unique aspect of Live-Work-Learn is that in addition to our students earning an hourly wage while gaining hands-on experience, our 12 partner employers pay for the cost of housing for the student during the summer.” He added, “If you are a college student, nothing is better than living in an apartment on our beachfront Atlantic City campus. Opening this opportunity up to students after two semesters at Brookdale gives them the opportunity to have a closer relationship with Stockton even before they transfer.”

The agreement also includes joint advising services from both institutions and ensures that financial aid eligibility follows whichever school the student attends. Five one-year scholarships of $2,000 each will be available annually for qualifying Brookdale graduates entering Stockton under this arrangement.

Additionally, program-to-program articulation agreements will be developed for high-demand majors to further ease transfers. Students who do not meet all admissions criteria may qualify for conditional dual admission: they attend classes at Brookdale but gain access to campus activities and groups at Stockton.

Stockton has similar agreements with 12 other community colleges across New Jersey.

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