Note the requirements

To be considered for Financial Aid at Western Connecticut State University, the following conditions must be met:

1. You must be a matriculated student registered at least half-time for the upcoming semester.
2. You must have maintained satisfactory academic progress.
3. You must not have been convicted for any offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of illegal drugs during a period of enrollment for which you were receiving Title IV aid.

Note the deadlines

• The output document resulting from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (F.A.F.S.A.) is the Institutional Student Information Record or Student Aid Report (SAR). These forms must be received in the University's data files with a valid index number, and with Western's name by March 15. The applicant should allow two weeks for the processing of the electronic F.A.F.S.A., hence March 1st is the recommended filing date.
• Financial aid awards are given on a first come/first served basis. Please complete your paperwork in a timely manner.

Fill out an application

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov,  and complete it according to the instructions. Western Connecticut State University's school code, 001380, is required.

• All 18-25 year-old males must be registered for the armed services draft in order to apply for financial assistance.

• Please make every attempt to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing your FAFSA.  If at the time of completing the FAFSA Form you are unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool because your taxes were recently filed or were not filed yet, you must update your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool once you have filed your taxes. (Some individuals may not be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval due to other circumstances)  

If  your FAFSA is selected for verification you may be asked to provide the following information and/or documents:

• If you had not utilized the IRS Data Retrieval Tool you may be asked to update your FAFSA using this tool.  In certain circumstances where this is not possible you will then be required to provide a 2012 IRS Tax Transcript for student and/or parent- IRS Tax Return Transcripts may be obtained by going online to www.irs.gov; calling the IRS toll-free at 1-800-908-9946 or downloading a form online at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506TEX) and mailing it to the IRS.

• If you and/or your parents did not and will not file a 2012 Federal Income Tax, then a Non- filer’s Certification Form must be completed and submitted to our office along with a copy of all W-2’s for any earned income.

• Verification Worksheet

• Verification of SNAP benefits

• Proof of Child Support paid if applicable

• Proof of High School completion or  it's equivalent

• Proof of Identity and Statement of Educational Purpose

Once your valid FAFSA is received by The Office of Student Financial Services you will be notified of which information and/or documents are required in order to complete the processing of your Financial Aid Award Package.

For Re- Entry, Transfer and Returning students, verification documents must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Services, postmarked no later than May 15, 2013 to maintain an on- time applicant status.