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ADMISSIONS

  • Information You Need to Know
    about Applying for Financial Aid

    Worcester State University follows a nationally accepted philosophy in administering our financial aid programs. Underlying this philosophy is the expectation of a reasonable contribution from students and their families toward meeting educational costs. Financial aid is awarded to those eligible students whose families’ financial resources are insufficient to meet college costs.

    To be eligible for financial aid at WSU, you must:

    • Be a United States citizen, a permanent resident of the United States, or an eligible noncitizen
    • Be accepted for enrollment in an eligible degree-granting program at Worcester State University
    • Be in attendance at least 6 credit hours (unless otherwise allowed by a specific aid program)
    • Be making satisfactory academic progress according to WSU policy
    • Be registered with Selective Service as required by federal regulations
    • Not owe a refund of any grant from Title IV funds (Pell, SEOG) received at any institution
    • Not be in default of any Federal Subsidized/ Unsubsidized Direct Loan, Federal Parent Loan, or Federal Perkins Loan received at any institution 
  • FAFSA Application

    If you are applying for financial assistance to attend WSU, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the Federal Processing Center. For grant, loan, and work-study programs, the FAFSA must be completed and on file in the WSU Financial Aid Office before review of your application can begin. Remember to write your full name and student ID number clearly at the top of all documents submitted.

    FAFSA Details
    WSU requires students to complete the FAFSA to apply for a:

    • Federal Pell Grant
    • Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
    • State grants
    • Worcester State University Tuition Waivers
    • Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
    • Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
    • Federal Perkins Loans
    • Federal PLUS Loan
    • Federal Work-Study
    • John and Abigail Adams Scholarship

    The FAFSA must be filed between October 1 and March 1 for the following academic year and before March 1 for priority consideration.

    For Worcester State University to receive the information from the FAFSA, you must indicate WSU’s name and Federal Title IV school code (002190) on your FAFSA.

    The easiest way to complete or correct your FAFSA is by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool as you complete your FAFSA at fafsa.gov. In a few simple steps, you may be able to view your tax return information and transfer it directly into your FAFSA.

    It takes approximately 1-2 weeks for the Federal Processing Center to process an online FAFSA application and forward its analysis to colleges and state grant agencies. In addition, the Federal Processing Center will send a Student Aid Report (SAR) to your email or home address.

    If you are a resident of Massachusetts, your FAFSA information will be automatically forwarded to the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), where it will be reviewed for eligibility for a MASSGrant. You should respond to all requests from the OSFA within the time frame indicated or you may forfeit eligibility for a MASSGrant.

    If you are a resident of another state, you should consult with your high school guidance office for information on how to apply for state grants.

    If you have applied for financial aid in prior years, you should already have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID) that can be used to sign the FAFSA.

    If you are applying for financial aid for the first time, you need to for an FSA ID to access and sign your FAFSA application. Your FSA ID serves as your signature for the FAFSA and the Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note, and allows you to access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. Students and parents each need their own FSA ID.

    Please note:

    • A FAFSA missing the required signatures will not be reviewed.
    • To add Worcester State University to an existing FAFSA, visit the FAFSA website for instructions. https://fafsa.ed.gov/help/fotwfaq63.htm Or, you can call 1-800-433-3243, during which you will need to give your DRN number on your Student Aid Report (SAR) and Worcester State University’s Title IV school code, 002190.
    • The Financial Aid Office may require additional documentation from you to verify data reported on your application materials. All verification documentation must be received by the Financial Aid Office and any necessary corrections must be made to an application in order for your application to be considered for financial aid awards.
    Verification

    The Financial Aid Office verifies complete financial aid applications selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education or by WSU. Verification ensures that students and parents have accurately reported the information used to determine eligibility for financial aid.

    The Financial Aid Office will notify you if additional information or documents are required.

    If you are selected for verification, you’ll be asked to submit requested information within 6 weeks of the date of your first Missing Items letter or your file will be considered LATE.

    Once verification is complete, you’ll be notified of your eligibility for financial aid. 

    Late FAFSA Application
    If you miss any of our FAFSA deadlines and are filing your FAFSA late, available financial aid is limited. Funding from the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loan programs is available to all late applicants who qualify.
    Annual Renewal
    Renewal of financial aid eligibility, including the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, must be re-established each award year. You must complete the entire FAFSA application procedure for each year that you seek financial aid.
    Expected Family Contribution

    The amount a family is expected to contribute to college costs is calculated by using financial information provided on the FAFSA. The expected family contribution may change based upon verified data and/or individual circumstances. Components of this calculation include:

    • Family income
    • Family assets
    • Number of family members
    • Number of family members attending college at least half-time
    Need for Financial Aid
    Need for financial aid is determined by subtracting the expected family contribution from the cost of attendance. The Financial Aid Office attempts to meet financial need by offering students a financial aid package of different types of financial aid.

  • Other Circumstances

    If you are planning to enroll at WSU as a part-time student, join us as a transfer undergraduate student, or apply for financial aid as a graduate student, you should be aware of the details of financial aid that are particular to your situation. If you want to study away or take a summer class at WSU, you may be able to use financial aid to cover some costs.

  • Part-Time Students
    Financial aid programs require that applicants be matriculated in a degree program. Students enrolled for at least 6 semester hours but fewer than 12 semester hours may be eligible for financial aid. Assistance is prorated for part-time students. Some students who are enrolled for 3 or more semester hours may be eligible for a Pell Grant.
    Transfer Students
    If you are transferring to WSU from another college or university, you may be eligible for financial aid. However, financial aid received at a previous institution is not transferred to WSU, and we may not offer an identical financial aid package.

    If you are a transfer student who received a MASSGrant at another institution, you must notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance at 617-391-6070 to ascertain eligibility and to request transfer of that award to Worcester State University.
    Graduate Students
    Although sources of funding are limited to federal loans and federal work-study, graduate students are encouraged to apply for financial aid. If you are a graduate student, you should follow the same FAFSA application procedures as undergraduate students.

    In addition, WSU offers graduate assistantships for matriculated graduate students taking at least 6 semester hours each semester. Visit the Graduate Assistantships page for more information.
    Study-Away Students
    Many students have been able to participate in study-away programs with the assistance of loans, grants, and/or scholarships. If you plan to use financial aid to pay for study away, it’s very important that you apply early. This will enable you to receive notification of your award before the study-away payment deadline and determine whether you will be financially able to participate in a study-away opportunity.
    Summer Session Students
    If you want to enroll in summer session courses at WSU, you must meet the general eligibility criteria for financial aid, follow the standard FAFSA application procedures, and file a summer financial aid application. Summer financial aid applications are available at the Financial Aid Office in early March. Please note that limited amounts of financial aid are available for summer sessions at WSU.