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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:
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 FAFSA is now open, however the Department of Education is still experiencing some delays. The 24-25 FAFSA 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 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:
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.
Worcester State University has partnered with the MassEdCO Educational Opportunity Center to provide additional support to students and families needing assistance with the FAFSA process.
MassEdCO is offering virtual and in-person FAFSA assistance. To schedule an appointment please visit Worcester State EOC services
Prepare for the appointment by gathering and bringing with you the List of Needed Information for the 2024-25 FAFSA
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.
