Prospective

From UConn Student Financial Aid Services

1 Welcome to the University of Connecticut
2 What is Financial Aid?
3 How Is Financial Aid Determined?
4 How Do You Apply for Financial Aid?
5 Resources

Welcome to the University of Connecticut

Financing a college education includes expenses for tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. This page outlines the range of financial assistance programs offered through the University of Connecticut. It explains the financial aid application process and provides valuable information about additional resources available to UConn students. A copy of the Fall 2009 Open House Financial Aid presentation is available here.

Did You Know?
Most UConn students qualify for some form of financial aid. We encourage you to apply for assistance even if you or your parents or guardians don't think you will be eligible.

What is Financial Aid?

Types of Aid

There are a variety of programs available to help you finance your UConn education. Most financial aid resources are intended to supplement, not replace, the financial resources of the family. Financial assistance is provided in the form of:

Scholarships
Grants
Loans
Student Employment

Scholarships are merit-based monetary awards that may range from paying a portion of your tuition to fully funding the costs associated with your college education. Scholarships do not need to be repaid.

Click here for more information about UConn's Merit Scholarships

Grants are similar to educational loans because they are also based on financial need. However, unlike loans, grants are not repaid. You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for grant awards.

Click here for more information about grant programs available at UConn.

Federal Education Loans are typically awarded based on federal need. These are low-interest loans that must be repaid with interest. To be considered, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Click here for more information about the most common federal education loans available at UConn.

Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally funded program for students who demonstrate financial need. Students are responsible for securing their own work-study job. Unlike other forms of financial aid, an FWS award is not applied to a student’s fee bill. Instead, students will receive a biweekly paycheck for hours worked to spend at the student’s discretion. A wide variety of part-time positions are available at the University’s main campus in Storrs and five regional campuses. On-and off-campus community service positions are also available. You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for Federal Work-Study.

Generally, a combination of funds from these different sources comprises a financial aid package. Financial aid packages are revised annually and may not meet your full financial need. Many students work summers or seek other funding opportunities to meet remaining financial need.

Did You Know?

The U.S. Department of Education reports that students who work part-time remain in school at a rate significantly higher than non-working students. At UConn’s main campus in Storrs, five regional campuses and four professional schools, the University employs one out of every four enrolled students.

How Is Financial Aid Determined?

Financial Need

Financial need is the difference between UConn's budget (estimated cost of attendance) and your expected family contribution:

	Cost of attendance
-	your expected family contribution
=	financial need

Anticipated University Expenses
There are a variety of expenses related to your educational experience. Our calculation of a student’s financial aid package includes: Direct Expenses (tuition and fees) AND Indirect Expenses (books, travel and miscellaneous items). Depending on where you live while attending UConn, room and board may be either a direct expense, if you live on campus, or an indirect expense if, for example, you live at home.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
You and your parent(s) (if you are a dependent) are primarily responsible for paying your higher education expenses. Your financial need is defined as the difference between higher education expenses and what you and your parent(s) are reasonably expected to contribute toward education expenses. This contribution – called EFC – is determined by using a methodology developed by the U.S. Department of Education.

Eligibility Requirements
To receive financial aid, students must be accepted into a degree-granting program at UConn, and must meet general eligibility requirements, enrollment status requirements, and satisfactory academic progress guidelines.

How Do You Apply for Financial Aid?

September - October 2009
• Begin searching for scholarships. All students are encouraged to contact local civic organizations, religious affiliations, high school guidance offices, and libraries for possible scholarship opportunities. Click here for a list of scholarship websites. Information about University of Connecticut Merit Scholarships is also available.

November - December 2009
• Begin collecting the documents needed to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), including income tax returns and W-2 forms (and other records of income). A full list of what you need is available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. • If you are planning to apply for financial aid, it is imperative that you provide a valid Social Security Number during the admission process. This will help to ensure the timely processing of your FAFSA. • Students, as well as parents of dependent students, must have a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in order to sign the FAFSA electronically. Go to http://www.pin.ed.gov to apply for a PIN for you and/or your parent. • Priority consideration for merit-based scholarships is given to those who submit a University of Connecticut application for admission prior to December 1.

January - February 2010
• If you and/or your parent have not received your Personal Identification Number (PIN) by January 1, please go to http://www.pin.ed.gov to request one. REMINDER: Parents of dependent students must also have a PIN to electronically sign the FAFSA. • The FAFSA cannot be submitted until after January 1 of the year you will be entering college. Students entering in the 2010-2011 academic year should complete the FAFSA on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov as soon as possible after January 1, 2010. Using FAFSA on the Web is faster and easier than using paper. However, if you don’t have Internet access you can request a paper FAFSA from the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). NOTE: Students must complete a FAFSA each academic year. The FASFA must be submitted to the Federal Processor on or before March 1 of each year to be considered on time. • The FAFSA is a required document used to determine a student’s eligibility for federal, state, and University aid, such as Pell grants, Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, work-study, etc. Complete and file only one FAFSA per student, although the results may be sent to several schools. • On Step 6 of the FAFSA, regardless of the campus you will attend, list the University of Connecticut and Federal School Code 001417. Record the college address as 233 Glenbrook Road, Storrs, CT. If you have any questions regarding the FAFSA, contact the U.S. Department of Education at 1-800-433-3243. • To be considered on time at UConn, you must submit your FAFSA by March 1, 2010. The awarding of most forms of University of Connecticut financial assistance is reserved for applications received and logged in by the federal processor on or before this on time application deadline. Please note that all awards are based upon funds availability. Do not wait for final income tax figures. Complete the FAFSA using estimated 2009 income figures, if necessary, to meet the on time application deadline. More