Request Information
Get answers to your questions.
Worcester State University follows a nationally accepted philosophy in administering 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 Worcester State, you must:
Worcester State University is proud to introduce ValuePlus, reinforcing our commitment to providing high-quality higher education to all students. Starting Fall 2025, eligible students can attend Worcester State at no cost for tuition and fees.
Learn more about ValuePlus
The 2026-27 FAFSA form is now available for all students and their contributors.
Students and families can complete the online FAFSA application at StudentAid.gov. Once the FAFSA has been submitted and processed, students can review their FAFSA Submission Summary by logging into their StudentAid.gov account Dashboard.
To file your 2026-27 FAFSA, keep in mind the following points:
Complete Your FAFSA
If you are applying for financial assistance to attend Worcester State, 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 Worcester State 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.
Worcester State requires students to complete the FAFSA to apply for a:
The 2026-27 FAFSA is now open and must be filed by May 1st for priority consideration.
For Worcester State to receive the information from the FAFSA, you must indicate Worcester State’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. 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 request 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:
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.
The Financial Aid Office verifies complete financial aid applications selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education or by Worcester State. 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 will be asked to submit requested information within 6 weeks of the date of the first communication indicating your application is missing items or your file will be considered late.
Once verification is complete, you will be notified of your eligibility for financial aid.
If you miss any of Worcester State’s 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.
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.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based number calculated from the information provided on the FAFSA. It serves as a starting point for determining eligibility for need-based financial aid, such as grants, work-study, and federal student loans.
The SAI is not the amount a family is expected to pay for college, nor does it represent the exact amount of financial aid a student will receive. Rather, colleges and universities use the SAI in combination with the institution’s Cost of Attendance (COA) to determine a student’s demonstrated financial need:
Cost of Attendance – Student Aid Index = Financial Need
The SAI is listed on the FAFSA Submission Summary, which becomes available after the FAFSA is submitted.
Need-based aid is financial assistance awarded to students who demonstrate financial need to help pay for college. Financial need is calculated as the difference between Worcester State’s Cost of Attendance (COA) and your Student Aid Index (SAI), which is determined by the information you provide on the FAFSA.
This type of aid may include grants, federal work-study opportunities, and federal direct student loans. Unlike loans, grants do not need to be repaid. Need-based aid can also be combined with merit scholarships and other resources to reduce your overall cost of attendance.
To receive maximum consideration for financial aid, students should complete the FAFSA as early as possible for the upcoming academic year.
If you need assistance with the FAFSA application, we encourage students and families to contact MEFA’s College Planning Team. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit MEFA.org or call 800-449-6332 to speak with a representative directly.
If you are planning to enroll at Worcester State as a part-time student, join 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 Worcester State, you may be able to use financial aid to cover some costs.
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.
If you are transferring to Worcester State from another college or university, you may be eligible for financial aid. However, financial aid received at a previous institution is not transferred to Worcester State, and the University 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.
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, Worcester State offers graduate assistantships for matriculated graduate students taking at least 6 semester hours each semester. Visit Graduate Assistantships for more information.
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 is 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.
If you want to enroll in summer session courses at Worcester State, 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 Worcester State.
Students and families have the option to make use of federal and private loans in order to help finance their education.
The Financial Aid Office encourages families to plan ahead when it comes to borrowing loans. It’s essential to carefully choose the loan program that best aligns with the student’s educational goals and the family’s financial situation. By understanding the different types of loans available, including federal, state, and private options, families can make informed decisions that will minimize debt and ensure a smoother repayment process after graduation. We recommend exploring all available financial aid options, including grants and scholarships, before considering loans. Proper planning and research can significantly impact the overall cost of education and the long-term financial health of students and their families.
All student loans, both federal and private, require a new application for each period of enrollment. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the application for Federal Direct Loans. To apply for a private student loan, the application must be processed directly with the lender.
Federal Direct Parent Plus Loans (Parent PLUS Loan) is a credit-based loan available to parents of dependent undergraduate students. Parents can apply for this loan via StudentAid.gov /PLUS app and may borrow up to the cost of attendance, minus all other financial aid.
Parent PLUS Loans accrue interest while the student is enrolled in school. Parents must start repaying PLUS loans as soon as the loan is fully disbursed. However, parents may be able to request to defer payments on a PLUS loan until six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time by contacting their loan servicer.
For more information regarding Federal Parent Plus loan fees, interest rates, and repayment options can be found on StudentAid.gov.
*Please note: if a parent is denied a Federal Parent Plus Loan the student may be eligible for additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
When federal loans and other aid do not cover your cost of education, private or alternative educational loans are available. Private educational loan programs vary by lender. Please contact specific lenders to find out about terms and conditions that may apply.
Worcester State has carefully curated a lender list with Elm Select to provide the best possible options for our community. As a result of RFI Worcester State conducted, lenders are recommended based on their historical lending experience with Worcester State students and the quality of products offered to students and families. Additionally, Worcester State will continue to certify private student loans from lenders not included on this list, ensuring that students have access to a wide range of financing options.
For more information and to view a list of suggested lenders, please visit ELMSelectWSU.
For Undergraduate Private Loans visit ELMSelect/UndergradPrivateLoans.
For Private Parent Loans visit ELMSelect/PrivateParentLoans.
Worcester State University offers a payment plan through Official Payments/ACI. Monthly Payment Plans are low-cost and interest-free. Families can sign up for payment plans as early as June for the Fall semester and November for the Spring semester. For information or if you wish to enroll with Official Payments/ACI, please visit OfficialPayments/PlanEnrollment.
External scholarships are a great way to help fund your education by covering both direct costs, such as tuition and fees, and indirect expenses like books and personal costs. These scholarships are offered by private organizations, nonprofits, and community groups to support students pursuing higher education.
We recommend checking with your high school guidance office, local library, community organizations, and local businesses, as they may offer scholarship opportunities. Many private and nonprofit organizations also provide financial support to students based on various criteria, such as academic achievement, community involvement, or field of study.
Applying for multiple scholarships can significantly reduce your overall educational costs. We encourage students to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to maximize their financial aid. If you are searching for external scholarship opportunities, consider using the following search engines:
Find College Scholarships | Fastweb
Resource Center – Mefa.org
Sallie | Scholarships
CollegeNET | Financial Aid Finder
Exchange Sponsoring Scholarships | Military.com
Unigo | Scholarships
Scholarships | CollegeXpress
The Santander Open Scholarship program offers eligible undergraduate students the chance to receive funding of up to $20,000, depending on their year in college. The program is available to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens who are enrolled full-time. Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of academic merit and financial need.
Applications will be accepted and reviewed throughout the 2025-2026 school year, with scholarships to be awarded and disbursed starting in the 2026-2027 school year and continuing thereafter. Recipients will be chosen based on both their academic achievements and demonstrated financial need. To get started, please visit Santander Open Scholarships.
Worcester State University’s online application system automatically matches you with all available scholarships for which you qualify. The application period typically runs from February to April each year. For more information or to submit your application, please visit Worcester State Scholarships.
*If you receive an external scholarship, you are required to report the award and amount to the Financial Aid Office. Students are responsible for informing us of any additional sources of funding not listed on their award letter. Federal regulations state that total financial aid cannot exceed a student’s calculated financial eligibility, and in some cases, an external scholarship may require an adjustment to your financial aid package.
The One Family Scholars Program offers additional support for students who are single parents and pursuing a college degree.
Program benefits include:
Participants receive individualized coaching to help access resources, build confidence, and strengthen academic and career skills that support graduation and long-term economic stability.
Application Deadline: June 26
Learn more and apply: https://www.onefamilyinc.org/scholars
From September to May (but not between semesters), the Financial Aid Office sends mail to students via their residence hall mail box, if they reside on campus, or to their home address, if they do not reside on campus. During the summer months everything is mailed to the home address. Whenever possible, the Financial Aid Office also sends announcements to students through the regular What’s Up at Woo University emails.
