In 2011, the Connecticut General Assembly approved a law that allows undocumented students residing in Connecticut to pay in-state tuition at Connecticut\u2019s public colleges and universities. In 2015, the legislature also reduced the requirement for Connecticut high school attendance from four years to two years. To be eligible for in-state tuition at a state institution, students must:<\/p>\n
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- Be a resident of Connecticut<\/li>\n
- Have attended at least two years of high school in Connecticut<\/li>\n
- Have graduated (or received high school diploma equivalency) from a Connecticut high school or is enrolled at a public institution of higher education in this state.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Institutional Financial Aid<\/strong><\/p>\n
On April 27, 2018, the Connecticut General Assembly, with the support of Governor Malloy, enacted a new state law<\/a> that allows undocumented students to apply for institutional financial aid.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 This does not apply to non-immigrant visa holders.<\/p>\n
Undocumented students may apply for consideration of institutional aid<\/strong>. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:<\/p>\n
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- Classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes;<\/li>\n
- Thirty years of age or younger on June 15, 2012;<\/li>\n
- 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<\/li>\n
- Have not been convicted of a felony in this state or another state.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Deadline to submit is<\/strong> March 1 <\/strong>– students can still submit the application after the deadline pending availability of funding.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 2026-2027 Disponible en Espa\u00f1ol\u00a0<\/a> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02025-2026 Disponible en Espa\u00f1ol<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
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TO SUBMIT THE AACTUS: <\/span><\/strong>Please <\/span><\/span>submit all documents for processing using the WCSU Financial Aid Document Upload page, a secure website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Instructions:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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- In a browser, go to\u00a0WCSU Financial Aid Document Upload<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(Hyland OnBase)<\/li>\n
- Complete the student information<\/li>\n
- Complete the sender information \u2013 you can include a message, if needed<\/li>\n
- Attach documents<\/li>\n
- Click submit<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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For information\/questions, please contact our office at 203-837-8580.<\/p>\n
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Other Financial Aid<\/strong><\/p>\n
At this time, undocumented students do not qualify for state or federal financial aid funding.<\/p>\n
Financing Opportunities at Western<\/em><\/p>\n
Students may apply for Foundation Scholarship<\/a> opportunities with the Office of Institutional Advancement. To be considered for a Foundation Scholarship, including merit and talent based awards, students must complete the Scholarship Application online<\/a>. Applicants must either be enrolled or have applied through the Admissions Office to attend\u00a0WCSU for consideration.<\/p>\n
We encourage you to search for scholarship opportunities from additional resources. Many organizations do not have restrictions based on citizenship or legal status.<\/p>\n
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- http:\/\/www.ct4adream.org\/<\/a><\/li>\n
- http:\/\/dreamersroadmap.org\/<\/a><\/li>\n
- https:\/\/unitedwedream.org\/<\/a><\/li>\n
- https:\/\/www.fastweb.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Students may also consider\u00a0Payment Plan options<\/a> offered through the Cashier’s Office to assist in meeting their educational expenses.<\/p>\n
Some Private Loan Options:<\/p>\n
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- Ascent Student Loans<\/a> – available to DACA students with a co-signer.<\/li>\n
- College Ave Student Loans<\/a> – available to non-US Citizens with a valid SSN (including DACA students) with a co-signer who is a US Citizen with a valid SSN.<\/li>\n
- FUNDINGU<\/a> – DACA students with a work-eligible SSN are eligible<\/li>\n
- Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan<\/a> – available to non-US Citizens (including DACA students) who reside in and attend school in the US. Apply online and select the “non-citizen” status. Students will need to submit proper documentation to prove citizenship\/identity. This can include a foreign passport, a student visa, an alien identification card, or an employment authorization card. Students must meet current credit and other eligibility criteria.\u00a0All documentation must be unexpired at the time of the application, government-issued, and include a photograph.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- College Ave Student Loans<\/a> – available to non-US Citizens with a valid SSN (including DACA students) with a co-signer who is a US Citizen with a valid SSN.<\/li>\n
- http:\/\/dreamersroadmap.org\/<\/a><\/li>\n
- In a browser, go to\u00a0WCSU Financial Aid Document Upload<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(Hyland OnBase)<\/li>\n