Financial Aid
CSCU offers financial aid to help qualified students meet their educational expenses. Staff is available at all our institutions to assist students in determining their eligibility.
Overview
Types of Financial Aid
- Scholarships
Scholarships are a great source of aid, and you do not need to pay them back. Many scholarships are available for students with special interests and backgrounds.
- Grants
You may be eligible to receive federal, state, and/or institutional grants. Certain federal student aid programs require a percentage of aid to be returned if a student completely withdraws from all courses. - Work Study
Work-study programs give you the opportunity to work on campus or with approved off-campus employers to earn money for college. These jobs are often flexible, working around your class and personal schedules.
- Student Loans
You also may be eligible for student loans, which must be repaid. Federal student loans usually have a lower interest rate than other kinds of loans.
Oct 1 Deadline
CSCU institutions may have different priority or deadline dates regarding financial aid. All institutions require students applying for financial aid to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used to package federal, state and often institutional aid. The application is required annually and is available starting October 1 for students planning to be enrolled in college the following fall semester.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Students receiving financial assistance under the federally supported Title IV Programs must comply with a set of standards to be eligible for such assistance. Such standards are referred to as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Please check below for the policies of each institution.
Apply
Follow the steps below to apply for financial aid.
Step 1: File a FAFSA
If you are a new student, do not wait until you are admitted to the university or college to apply for financial aid. The earlier you apply, the better chance you have that funds will be available.
- Submit one FAFSA for each academic year.
- To access all Federal Student Aid's online systems and sign your FAFSA, apply for an FSA ID at fsaid.ed.gov.
- To reduce possible mistakes, use the Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval process.
- Enter the institutional code in the Federal School Code field. Use school code 007635 for CT State on your FAFSA.
- Review the application to ensure all answers are complete and accurate.
Step 2: Receive Notifications
- An email notification from college/university Financial Aid office
- An email notification from the Federal Processor
Step 3: Awarded Aid if Eligible
If you are eligible, you will be awarded financial aid. You will receive an email notification of your financial aid award sent to your email address.
Step 4: Complete additional requirements
If you accepted your Federal Direct student loan, you must complete additional requirements to receive the loan.
- Complete an online entrance interview at studentaid.gov
- Complete an online master promissory note committing student to repay the loan. Complete the promissory note online at studentaid.gov
If you have been offered and accepted a Federal Perkins loan please go to signmyloan.com to complete the Federal Perkins Loan Process.
Step 5: Receive Aid Refund
Fifteen days after the semester begins, financial aid refunds (minus tuition, fees and housing fees) will be either directly deposited or have a checked mailed to those students who have completed steps 1-4 above.
Contact
| Financial Aid Services Website | Telephone / E-mail Address | Fax | School Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| CT State Community College | 007635 | ||
| Central Connecticut State University | 860.832.2200 finaid@ccsu.edu | 860.832.3330 | 001378 |
| Charter Oak State College | 860.515.3703 sfa@charteroak.edu | 860.760.6540 | 032343 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | 860.465.5205 financialaid@easternct.edu | 860.465.2811 | 001425 |
| Southern Connecticut State University | 203.392.5222 leeg1@southernct.edu | 203.392.5229 | 001406 |
| Western Connecticut State University | 203.837.8580 wcsufinancialaid@wcsu.edu | 203.837.8528 | 001380 |
Net Price Calculator
Estimated net price (including tuition and required fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other related expenses) for students based on what similar students paid in a previous year.
Undocumented Students
On April 27, 2018, the Connecticut General Assembly, with the support of Governor Malloy, enacted a new state law that allows undocumented students to apply for institutional financial aid. These students must meet certain age, residency, and criminal history requirements along with an affidavit with the institution they are attending about their intent to legalize their immigration status when they are eligible to do so. This does not apply to non-immigrant visa holders.
Undocumented Aid Application
Undocumented Veteran Eligibility
Undocumented veterans may be eligible for institutional financial aid beginning with the Fall 2018 semester. To be eligible, veteran students must meet the following criteria:
- Honorably discharged veteran of the US Armed Forces;
- Thirty years of age or younger on June 15, 2012;
- Fifteen years of age or younger when they arrived in the United States and have continuously resided in the United States since such arrival; and
- Have not been convicted of a felony in this state or another state.
Undocumented Students
Starting in the 2019-2020 academic year, undocumented students may apply for institutional aid consideration toward the Spring 2020 semester. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:
- Classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes;
- Thirty years of age or younger on June 15, 2012;
- Sixteen years of age or younger when they arrived in the United States and have continuously resided in the United States since such arrival; and
- Have not been convicted of a felony in this state or another state.
Undocumented Student Eligibility
Institutional financial aid is awarded on the basis of financial need and fund availability. In order to be considered for institutional financial aid, undocumented students must meet these additional eligibility requirements:
- Must be classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes;
- Must be accepted into a degree or eligible certificate program;
- Must be meeting the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy at the attending institution;
- Must meet any priority deadlines or requirements published by the attending institution related to the receipt of institutional financial aid.
Scholarship Opportunities
We encourage you to search for scholarship opportunities from additional resources. Many organizations do not have restrictions based on citizenship or legal status.