A Grad’s Tribute: NJCU Helped Me Build a Better Life, 40 Years Later

Dom Calicchio, now a Bergen County resident, still remembers the walk across the campus in 1986. He was 22, clutching his diploma from what was then called Jersey City State College. It wasn’t an Ivy League school. But for him, it was everything.

Forty years later, Calicchio recently shared his story in an op-ed for the Jersey City Times. His message? NJCU didn’t just give him a degree—it gave him a way forward.

NJCU is a public university in Jersey City, serving a student body that’s largely local. Many of its students are the first in their families to attend college. They work part-time jobs. They commute from their parents’ homes. They don’t have a safety net.

Calicchio was one of them. He grew up in the area, which wasn’t easy. His family didn’t have money saved for tuition. Jersey City State College offered an affordable path. It wasn’t flashy. But it was solid.

“It helped countless students build better lives,” Calicchio wrote. He was one of those students. After graduation, he built a career in journalism and communications. He’s now a writer in Bergen County. That degree? It was the key.

The college has changed over the years. It became New Jersey City University in 2013. Enrollment has grown. The campus has expanded. But the core mission remains: give local students a shot at a better life. That’s a mission that matters more than ever, especially in Hudson County.

For people in Jersey City, NJCU isn’t just a school. It’s a neighbor. It’s where your cousin went. It’s where the kid from your block earned his nursing degree. It’s where a single mom took night classes after her kids went to sleep. Calicchio’s story is theirs, too.

The university is still doing that work. Today, NJCU serves more than 8,000 students. Many are from Hudson County. They’re studying to become teachers, nurses, social workers, and business owners. They’re the people who will stay in this community and make it stronger.

Calicchio is clear about what NJCU gave him: opportunity. “I’m grateful every day for the education I received,” he wrote. “It was the foundation for everything that came after.” He’s not alone. Thousands of alumni would say the same.

So what’s next for NJCU? The university faces challenges, like most public colleges. Budget pressures. Changing enrollment patterns. But its role in Hudson County isn’t going anywhere. It remains a lifeline for students who need it most.

For residents, there’s something simple to take away from Calicchio’s story. It’s a reminder that a public university can change a life. If you know a student thinking about college, tell them about NJCU. Sometimes the best thing you can give someone is a chance.

Calicchio has lived that truth for 40 years. And he’s still grateful. That’s a story worth remembering.