Applying for Financial Aid

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.

FAFSA Details

Worcester State 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 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:

• A FAFSA missing the required signatures will not be reviewed.
• To add Worcester State to an existing FAFSA, visit the FAFSA website for instructions. 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.

1. Create a StudentAid.gov Account
   Every contributor who’s required to provide information on the FAFSA form needs a StudentAid.gov account before accessing the completing their section of the online FAFSA form.  This includes the student, their spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or a parent’s spouse.
2. Gather Necessary Documents
   Prepare documents such as tax returns, records of child support received, bank statements, and records of other financial support. Contributors will need the same documents for their portions of the FAFSA.
3. You are now ready to complete the FAFSA.  Some important reminders:

• Student and Parent Information: Include accurate Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and emails for all required parent contributors.  Contributors without social security numbers can still complete the FAFSA using other identifying information.
• Family Size:  The family size for FAFSA will be the number of exemptions claimed on your (or your parents, if applicable) federal tax return for the FAFSA base year.  If this number has changed, you can update this number.
• Parents’ Marital Status: Report parents’ marital status as of the day you submit the FAFSA. Unsure which parent is a contributor?   Use the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? Wizard on studentaid.gov.
• Dependent vs. Independent: The FAFSA asks a series of questions that determine whether you are a dependent or independent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid.  If you are a dependent student, you must report parent information, as well as your own information, on your application.  
• All Contributors Must Consent: All contributors must provide consent using their FSA ID to transfer Federal Tax Information (FTI) from the IRS.
• List Colleges and/or Career Schools:  
• Worcester State Federal School Code 002190.
• Review, Sign, and Submit: Carefully review your FAFSA answers, ensure all contributors have signed, and submit for processing

After you submit your completed FAFSA, the US Department of Education will process the application within one to three days.  Once processed, you will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary, which summarizes the information provided on the FAFSA.   Review your FAFSA Submission Summary to ensure all of the information is complete and accurate.  

To ensure Worcester State University receives your FAFSA, you must add our school code which is 002190.  Once received, the Financial Aid Office will review your information and notify you if further documentation is needed.  If further documentation is not required, we will confirm eligibility, determine financial need using your Student Aid Index (SAI), and issue a financial aid award.

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.

Some financial aid applications are randomly selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education or by Worcester State University. Verification ensures that the information you and your family reported is accurate.

If your application is selected, the Financial Aid Office will notify you of any additional documents or information needed.  Once verification is complete, the Financial Aid Office will review all submitted information, and an award will be made or revised.  

Important Tip: Make sure to check your Worcester State email and your Self-Service Financial Aid portal account checklist regularly. Submitting all required documents promptly will prevent delays in processing your award.

If you are a Massachusetts resident, your FAFSA information is automatically forwarded to the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) for MASSGrant eligibility review. Be sure to respond promptly to any requests from OSFA to avoid delays or loss of eligibility.

Students must complete a FAFSA application each year by the designated deadline to be considered for state financial aid programs, including the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship and other state grants and waivers.

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.

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.