Types of Aid

From UConn Student Financial Aid Services

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Image:Certificate.svg Grants and Scholarships


University of Connecticut Scholarships are offered to incoming students through the Undergraduate Admissions Office. These are merit-based and all incoming freshman are considered according to grade point average, SAT scores, and rank in class. The Undergraduate Admissions Office will notify you if you are eligible for any of these awards. Upperclass students with high academic achievement should inquire about scholarship opportunities at their academic departments within their field of study

The UConn Alumni Office also offers scholarships. Applications can be obtained by contacting the Alumni Office.

Connecticut Aid to Public Colleges Grants are offered to eligible full time, in-state undergraduate students pursuing their first undergraduate degree whose FAFSA has been received by the federal processor on or before the on-time deadline. These funds are limited and are awarded on a first come, first served basis. They do not require repayment.

Federal Pell Grants are offered to eligible students who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree. These funds do not require repayment.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are offered to eligible full time undergraduates with exceptional financial need (typically Federal Pell Grant recipients) whose FAFSA has been received by the federal processor on or before the on-time deadline. They do not require repayment and are offered on a first come, first served basis to students pursuing their first undergraduate degree.

Academic Competitiveness Grant(ACG) is a grant program for full-time undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible program, who receive Federal Pell Grants and U.S. citizens. Students also must have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (as defined by federal guidelines) and be enrolled in at least a two-year academic program acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor's degree or enrolled in at least a two-year academic program acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor's degree or enrolled in a graduate degree program that includes three academic years of undergraduate education. They do not require repayment.

First academic year undergraduate students must:

  • Be enrolled in an eligible program;
  • Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study;
  • Not have been previously enrolled as a regular student in an undergraduate education program; and
  • Have graduated high school after January 1, 2006.

The award is up to $750 for first year academic undergraduate students.

Second academic year undergraduate students must:

  • Be enrolled in an eligible program;
  • Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study;
  • Have graduated high school after January 1, 2005; and
  • Have at least a 3.0 GPA for the first academic year for their eligible program.

The award is up to $1,300 for the second academic year undergraduate students.

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) is a grant program for full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled in the third or fourth academic year of an eligible program, who receive Federal Pell Grants and are a U.S. citizen. An eligible program in the National SMART Grant is one that leads to a bachelor's degree in an eligible major or a graduate degree program in an eligible major or graduate degree program in an eligible major that includes at least three academic years of undergraduate education. They do not require repayment.

Students must:

  • Be pursuing an eligible major in physical, life or computer sciences, engineering, technology, mathematics or a critical-need foreign language; and
  • Have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
  • Enrolled in at least 1 course required by the major for each term including general education courses.

The award is up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth academic years.

TEACH Grants are offered to eligible undergraduate students currently completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan on completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA 3.25 for each term and score above the 75th percentile on the SAT, ACT or GRE. Students receiving the TEACH grant must agree to full-time for at least four years within eight years of completing their program at a Title I school in a specified subject area (mathematics, science, a foreign language, bilingual education, special education, as a reading specialist, and other "high-need" fields). If service is not met, the grant must be repaid as an unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan, with interest from the date(s) of original disbursement.


Tuition Remission Grants are offered to eligible full time graduate students, as well as full time undergraduate students pursuing their first undergraduate degree whose FAFSA has been received by the federal processor on or before the on-time deadline. These funds are limited and are awarded on a first come, first served basis. They do not require repayment. Students who are not paying UConn tuition are not eligible for this grant.

University Grants aare offered to eligible full time undergraduate students pursuing their first undergraduate degree whose FAFSA has been received by the federal processor on or before the on-time deadline. These funds are limited and are awarded on a first come, first served basis. They do not require repayment.

Image:Books-02.svg Loans


Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans (FSL) are offered to students attending the University of Connecticut at least half-time. To be considered for these loan programs, students must Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA)and must be in a degree or approved certificate program. To qualify for the Subsidized FSL, the student must demonstrate financial need. The government pays the accruing interest while the student is in school at least half-time.If a family does not demonstrate financial need, the student can borrow an Unsubsidized FSL. The interest begins to accrue on these loans at the time of disbursement. The student is responsible for the interest as it accrues, but is given the option of paying the interest while in school or having it accumulate and be added to the loan principal (capitalized) once the loan enters repayment. Both loans have a low fixed interest rate and go into repayment six months after the student drops below half-time status. If you intend to borrow a Federal Stafford Loan, respond via the Student Administration System within 30 days of receiving your award notification.

Federal PLUS Loans for Parents and Graduate Students/Alternative Loans


Federal Perkins Loans are offered to eligible full-time students whose FAFSA has been received by the federal processor on or before the On-Time Deadline. These funds must be repaid. A Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest (fixed at 5%) loan for students at the University of Connecticut with a demonstrated financial need. The University is the lender and the loan must be repaid to the school, beginning nine months after the student's enrollment status drops below half-time status. Due to limited funding levels, the University offers the Federal Perkins Loan on a priority basis to eligible full-time students at the freshman and sophomore levels. Once you accept the Federal Perkins Loan, first-time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note and Confidential Federal Perkins Loan Data Form before the loan will be applied to the student's fee bill. For more information, download the "Federal Perkins Loan All-in-One Form Package" from our Online Forms section.

Note: If your Master Promissory Note is not returned to the Office of Student Financial Aid Services by the stated date, the Federal Perkins Loan will not be disbursed to your account and will be canceled (first-time Perkins Loan borrowers only).

Continuing borrowers will not be required to complete a new Master Promissory Note. Due to limited funding, if your award is canceled, the University may not be able to reinstate your award.

Image:Users.svg Student Employment


Federal Work-Study is awarded to students as part of their financial aid package. Work-Study is a program that allows you to earn money to help pay for educational expenses. Unlike other forms of financial aid, Work-Study is not applied to your fee bill. To earn your Work-Study award, you must secure a Work-Study job.

Job opportunities are listed on the Student Employment site http://studentjobs.uconn.edu. You will receive a paycheck bi-weekly for the hours you work to spend however you please.

Student Labor is the other student employment program available to UConn students. This is a work program for on-campus jobs where the student does not have to have financial need to qualify.

Any student wishing to work on campus may apply for a Student Labor position. The actual jobs under Student Labor and Work-Study are the same. The difference between these two programs is the funding source for your salary. Work-Study funding comes from the federal government while Student Labor positions are funded by the departments that employ you. These jobs are also listed on http://studentjobs.uconn.edu

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