A debt free college degree is now a reality for 40 Newark high school seniors thanks to a new program.

The city is funding a $1 million grant pilot program at Saint Elizabeth University. It covers tuition and housing expenses for four years.

The goal is to close the wealth and education gap in the city. According to officials, fewer than 16% of Newark residents have a bachelor's degree.

"It gives me great pleasure to know we're giving you what some of us didn't have," says Dawn Haynes, president of the Newark Board of Education. "Have those conversations with your parents about if, in fact, they went to college and why and why not."

To qualify, students must have a GPA between 1.8 and 2.5 and choose a major in social work, psychology, education or nursing.