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GRADUATE STUDENTS


Financial assistance

The following is important information pertaining to graduate students who are interested in applying for financial assistance at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU):

  • Students must add SCSU code (001406) on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate academic period.
  • Must be officially accepted as a matriculated student into the department and the graduate admissions office.
  • Must be registered for a minimum of 4.5 credits to be considered for financial assistance.

 

Connecticut State University Grants

SCSU has a limited number of institutional grants for eligible full-time ($2250 per semester for the 1112 academic year)  and part-time graduate students ($750 per semester for the 1112 academic year).  To be considered for this grant, an applicant must meet the following criteria:

  • Register as a full-time student (9+ credit hours) or part-time student (4.5 - 8.5 credit hours) each semester; fall and spring;
  • Demonstrate financial need according to the federal financial aid definition:  Cost of attendance (financial aid budget) minus Expected Family Contribution per FAFSA (EFC) equals Need.
  • Have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (for new graduate students);
  • Have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.2 at the end of the semester prior to the award year.

 

Stipulations: Full-time grant recipients must register and pay for a minimum of 9 credit hours for the fall semester by the University's bill payment deadline in July. Part-time grant recipients must register and pay for a minimum of 4.5 credit hours for the fall semester by the University's bill payment deadline in July. To retain grant eligibility for the following award year, students must maintain minimum credit hours  (9 hours for full-time and 4.5 for part-time) and a minimum GPA of 3.2.

 

School of Graduate Studies Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships

The School of Graduate Studies offers competitive, merit-based assistantships and fellowships annually to full-time graduate students (subject to availability of funds).  Assistantships require students to work for a faculty member for 20 hours/week while fellowship recipients conduct their own research under the aegis of a faculty member.  Applications for these programs are due in mid-March.  The awards provide a monthly stipend and the waiver of most student fees.  Detailed information about these programs including application instructions and current award amounts can be found on the School of Graduate Studies website http://www.southernct.edu/grad.

 

Federal Direct Stafford Loans:

  • Starting with the 2012-2013 academic year, graduate students will only be able to apply for a direct unsubsdized stafford loan. Graduate students can apply up to $20,500 annually. The aggregate limit for a graduate student is $138,500 (including loans for undergraduate study).  No more than $65,500 of this aggregate amount may be in the form of subsidized loans.

 

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans:

  • You may apply for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan after you complete the FAFSA and apply for the maximum annual amounts you qualify for in Federal Direct Stafford Loans.  You may borrow up to the cost of your education, minus the amount of any financial aid you receive.