Financial Aid: Available Grants

Note: When you complete the FAFSA or Renewal Application, you are applying for all federal, state and university grants and loans offered at WCSU.

Federal Pell Grants (Pell)

The Pell Grant was established as a basic access program for students from low and middle income families. To qualify for a Pell Grant, the student must:

  1. Be matriculated.
  2. Be registered at least half-time.
  3. Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in an eligible program as an undergraduate student at the institution.
  4. Meet one of the following citizenship criteria:
    1. Be a U.S. citizen.
    2. Be a permanent resident of the U.S.; or
    3. Provide evidence from the Immigration and Naturalization Service that he/she is in the United States for other than a temporary purpose, with the intention of becoming a citizen or permanent resident; or
    4. Be a permanent resident of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands or the Northern Mariana Islands.
  5. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress according to the standards and practices of the institution.
  6. Not owe a refund on a Pell Grant, Supplement Grant or State Student Incentive received to meet the cost of attending the institution;
  7. Not be in default on any National Defense/Direct Student Loan (also known as Perkins Loan), Stafford Student Loan, or Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) received to meet the cost of attending the institution.
  8. Not engage in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of a controlled substance during the period covered by this grant.

Second Scheduled Pell Grant Awards

Effective: May 2010**

The Higher Education Opportunity Act enables a student, who meets certain requirements, to receive up to two Federal Pell Grant Scheduled Awards, in a single award year to accelerate completion of a degree or certificate.

 Summer 2010 Pell Policy:

 Western CT State University considers the summer term (May – August) as a trailer to the 2009 – 2010 academic year. During this transaction period, students are eligible for up to 2 scheduled awards (200%) per year of Pell Grant award.

 To receive the second scheduled Pell grant students must have:

  • Completed the Free Application for federal Student Aid to determine eligibility for the Pell Grant for 2009 -2010 and the Summer 2010 term

  • Be enrolled for 6 or more credits fro the summer term

  • Completed WCSU's summer financial aid application

  • Successfully completed Credit hours of the first academic year in the award year

 Future Summer Term Pell Policy:

Beginning in the 2010 – 2011 academic year (Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Summer 2011), WCSU will consider both the current EFC from FAFSA and the upcoming academic year’s EFC from FAFSA to determine which year results in the highest Pell Grant award that students are eligible to receive.  Also, students must demonstrate *Academic Year Acceleration in order to qualify for a Second Scheduled Pell Award.

 Requirements:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine eligibility for the Pell Grant for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 academic years

  • Be enrolled for 6 or more credits for the summer term

  • Complete WCSU's summer financial aid application

  • Successfully complete Credit hours of the first academic year in the award year

  • Must be a matriculated student at Western

  • Must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress

  • Amounts received will count toward the aggregate lifetime limit

  • Demonstrate *Academic Year Acceleration

*Academic Year Acceleration – WCSU defines a year for full time students as earning 24 credits academically. At least one credit in the payment period from the Second Scheduled Pell Award must count toward the student’s next academic year.

Transfer Students:

 For the 2010 – 2011 academic year, WCSU will use the assumption method to determine acceleration toward the Second Scheduled Pell Award.

If student received 100% of the first Scheduled Pell Award at prior school, WCSU will assume the student completed the first academic year.  If student received less than the 100%, we will use the same ratio to WCSU’s academic year as the % of the Scheduled award that was received by the other school and round up.

**Revised: September 2010

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are awarded to students pursuing a first baccalaureate degree. Awards range from $100 to $4,000 per academic year. The conditions to be met in order to qualify for a supplemental grant are the same as those listed under Pell Grant above.

Connecticut Aid for Public University (CAPS)

A CAP award can be given to part-time or full-time matriculated students. Recipients must be CT residents. The grant can not exceed financial need.

Connecticut State University Grant Aid (CSUG)

Public Act 76-181 authorizes the Board of Trustees for the State University to allocate funds to be given as grants to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled as matriculated students in a degree granting program.


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