Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is based on family income and assets. It is available to undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program who do not already have a bachelor’s degree. For the 2017-2018 award year, Pell Grants ranged from $606 to $5,920.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal grant administered by WSU. These grants are limited to undergraduate students who do not already have a bachelor’s degree. Priority is given to students with exceptional need and to Federal Pell Grant recipients. SEOG awards are determined by the WSU Financial Aid Office.

MASSGrant
The MASSGrant Program is administered and awards are made by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Grant eligibility is verified by the WSU Financial Aid Office and adjustments, which affect a student’s award amount, are sent to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

For the 2017-2018 academic year, grant awards at WSU ranged from $400 to $1,400. Application is made by completing the FAFSA. Massachusetts residents applying for financial aid who will enroll full-time must apply for MASSGrant by May 1. MASSGrant eligibility is limited to eight semesters.

Worcester State University Need-Based Tuition Waiver and State Access Grant Program
Full and partial tuition waivers are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and who are:

• Undergraduate students
• In good academic standing
• Legal residents of Massachusetts

Waivers may not exceed a semester’s tuition charge and other waivers and/or tuition remissions for which a student is eligible will be deducted from the tuition charged before the need-based tuition waiver amount is determined.

The State Access Grant is awarded based on need and cannot exceed tuition and fees.

When considering a loan, think carefully about these points:

• Loans are obligations that must be repaid
• The amount of money borrowed now will affect your future lifestyle
• Your ability or inability to repay loans will affect credit worthiness for other credit-based purchases

Therefore, plan ahead for repayment and choose loan programs carefully.

Federal Direct Loan Program
The Federal Direct Loan Program is designed to help a student pay expenses at institutions of post-secondary education. A FAFSA is required to receive a Federal Direct Loan. All applicants must demonstrate financial need in order to qualify for a subsidized loan. A student with no need or partial need may be eligible for an unsubsidized loan. Unlike subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans accrue interest while in school. The WSU Financial Aid Office will inform you if your loan is subsidized and/or unsubsidized.

• The federal government does not pay any interest on students’ behalf. Interest begins to accrue on an unsubsidized direct loan when each portion of a loan is disbursed. Borrowers may choose to pay the interest while in school or allow it to accumulate. Interest that is allowed to accumulate will be capitalized, meaning that the interest will be added to the principal amount of the loan and will increase the repayment amount. Paying the interest as it accumulates lowers the repayment amount in the long run.

• The repayment period for Federal Direct Loans begins 6 months after the student/borrower graduates, ceases to be enrolled at least half-time, or withdraws from school. The interest rate is adjusted each year on July 1. Visit studentloans.gov for terms and conditions.

• Students who are first-time borrowers at Worcester State must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note online to ensure that the Federal Direct Loan appears as a credit on their bill. Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note can be completed at the Federal Student Aid website.

• All graduating students or students who withdraw or take a leave of absence must complete a required Exit Counseling session prior to graduation or the beginning of a withdrawal or leave of absence. Exit Counseling can be completed at the Federal Student Aid website.

• Prospective borrowers should be aware that the amount of subsidized and/or unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan Worcester State can award may be affected by the amount of financial aid awarded.

Eligibility Amounts

• Dependent and independent undergraduate students who have completed:
  • 1-29 credit hours of study are eligible for $5,500
  • 30-59 credit hours of study are eligible for $6,500
  • 60 or more credit hours of study are eligible for $7,500

• Independent students (and dependent students whose parents are denied a PLUS loan) can borrow additional amounts from the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program in the amount of $4,000 for their first and second years of study and $5,000 for their third and fourth year.

• Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 from the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program if their cost of education warrants these amounts.

Specific information on repayment, deferment, cancellation, and default provisions for Direct Loan borrowers is available at the Federal Student Aid website.

Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
The PLUS Loan enables parents of dependent undergraduates to borrow for their dependent’s education. A FAFSA is required to receive a PLUS Loan. Repayment of this loan begins within 60 days of the date that the loan is disbursed. However, parents can apply for a deferment through the federal government. The interest rate is variable, adjusted annually, not to exceed 9%. Parents sign a Master Promissory Note similar to the Direct Loan MPN, which is good for up to 10 years. Note: A separate MPN must be signed for each child for whom the parent borrows.

Parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance annually, less any financial aid awarded to the student. Parents can apply for PLUS loans and get specific information on repayment, deferment, cancellation and default provisions at the Federal Student Aid website.

Private Education Loans
Private education loans may be available to assist students who have received the maximum financial aid award(s) allowed through grants, work-study, and loans, but still have remaining Worcester State expenses.

Problem Resolution Options
The Department of Education has created the position of Student Loan Ombudsman to help students to resolve their federal student loan problems. Students should first attempt to resolve federal student loan problems through their lender, servicer, or the WSU Financial Aid Office.

Should all attempts to resolve problems through these channels fail, you can contact the Ombudsman at 877-557-2575 or the Federal Student Aid website. This applies to all loans with the exception of private and state loans.

To resolve problems regarding private and state loans, contact the WSU Financial Aid Office or the originator of the loan. 

Federal Work-Study Program
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program is a need-based program that provides federally subsidized employment opportunities on campus for enrolled students. A student’s financial aid award letter indicates the FWS award and maximum earnings limit, typically $1,500, depending on availability of funds and individual need. Students are paid only for hours actually worked. The FWS wage rate is variable depending on placement.

The WSU Financial Aid Office will email instructions on how to complete the Federal Work-Study Employment process in the end of summer. This email will be sent to students’ WSU email address.

To complete the employment process a student must submit a:

• I-9 (along with appropriate identification, such as a passport, a social security card, or birth certificate)
• W-4
• M-4
• Direct Deposit Form
• Employer Action Form, the contract form given to the student after submission of the I-9, W-4, M-4, and Direct Deposit Form, with all appropriate signatures

Students who do not submit all paperwork to the office by the Friday before Columbus Day (for students who start school in the fall), or by the Friday before Presidents' Day (for students who start school in the spring) forfeit their FWS award for the entire academic year.

After FWS placement, the FWS student employee and supervisor complete the student’s time sheet online, per the instructions provided to the student and supervisor. FWS earnings are not applied directly to the student’s tuition account without the student’s written consent. These wages are paid directly to the student via direct deposit.

Students are encouraged to participate in employment that complements and reinforces their educational goals. Full-time students may not work more than the number of hours indicated on their Employer Action Form and cannot work during scheduled class times.

Community service FWS positions are available. Contact the WSU Financial Aid Office for information.

Students employed under the FWS program are not eligible for unemployment compensation benefits or worker’s compensation for on-the-job accidents. FWS earnings must be declared on federal and state income tax returns, if filed.

Other On-Campus Employment
Some departments on campus—including Student Involvement and Leadership Development, Conference and Event Services, bookstore, Chartwells, and Residence Life and Housing—offer part-time jobs to students. Visit the Careers at WSU page for openings.

Off-Campus Employment
Off-campus job opportunities can be accesses via the LancerLink portal available through the Career Services Office website.