• File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as October 1st for the following academic year.
• You can file online at http://studentaid.gov
  • SCSU’s school code – 001406
  • Creating a FSA ID
  • Creating a FSA ID without a SSN
  • FAFSA FAQs

• Go to https://login.southernct.edu
• Enter your User Name and Password and click Sign In
• Select Banner Student
• Select Financial Aid
• Select Award Offer
• Scroll down to view and accept or decline your pending aid
• Please note you can accept your financial aid now, but the loan requirements listed below should not be completed until on or after April 15.

After the aid is accepted or declined, you cannot make adjustments online. The easiest way to make a change is to complete the Change of Award form.

Answer the Mandatory Financial Aid Authorization Questions:

• Go to https://login.southernct.edu
• Enter your Username and Password
• Click Sign In
• Select Banner Student
• Select Financial Aid
• Select View Questions on the Home tab
• Scroll past the first empty box (do not type in this box)
• Answer the two questions
• Click Submit the Information (You may see the answers revert back to being blank)
• Go to the Resources tab to verify your answers

First time borrowers of Federal Direct Loans must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling (EC) before their loans can be marked ready for disbursement.  These two steps (EC & MPN) do not need to be completed if already done in a prior year. 

• Go to http://studentaid.gov
• Log in using your FSA ID
• Under the “Complete a Process” tab select “Complete a MPN”
  • Complete the form and submit
• Under the “Complete a Process” tab select “Complete Entrance Counseling”
  • Answer all the questions and submit

If your FAFSA has been selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education, you will be required to confirm that data provided on the FAFSA.  We have partnered with a company called Inceptia which will help students and their parents complete this process through their online portal.  Please see FAFSA Verification for more information regarding verification.

• April
  • Parent PLUS Loan applications for parents of dependent students will be available online
    • If a Parent PLUS loan is denied the student will receive an additional Unsubsidized loan in the student’s name
  • 7-month Payment Plan (sign up through Student Accounts)
  • Fall registration opens
• May
  • SCSU Foundation scholarship recipients are determined
    • Recipients will receive a separate notification from the University if selected in late May or early June
  • 6-month Payment Plan (sign up through Student Accounts)
• June
  • Athletic scholarships are determined by the Athletic Department (Contact your coach for more information)
  • Connecticut State University Trustees Scholarship renewals are awarded after spring grades are posted to ensure continued eligibility
  • Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for financial aid eligibility will be reviewed for all students.  Students not making SAP will be notified and have their aid awards reduced or canceled accordingly.
  • Grade Level advancement will be confirmed and federal loans adjusted accordingly
  • 5-month Payment Plan (sign up through Student Accounts)
• July
  • Fall bills are due on July 15
  • New Haven Promise awards are determined
  • Gear Up waiver eligibility is determined after spring grades are posted
  • Honors College notifies the OFSA of scholarship recipients
  • 4-month Payment Plan (sign up through Student Accounts)

Your award package may change from year to year.  Living on campus versus commuting along with availability of funds are just two of the many factors used to determine the financial aid award.  If you reported your housing status incorrectly on the FAFSA, be sure to complete the  Change of Award form to have your aid updated accordingly.

Additionally, please notify our office by completing the Change of Award form if you will not be attending full-time (12.0 credits) as all financial aid awards are based on full-time status.

Financial aid does not always cover all expenses, so be sure to have a plan in place to pay any outstanding balance.  Some options include:

• Federal Direct PLUS Loan for a Parent of an Undergraduate Student
  • If a Parent PLUS loan is denied the student will receive an additional Unsubsidized loan in the student’s name
• Alternative Loans – student may require a co-signer
  • Please note that if you plan to take out an alternative loan for winter or summer, you must file a separate loan application for each of those sessions.
• Payment Plan through Student Accounts
• Private Scholarships - research and apply for scholarships

If your family has experienced a significant change after completing the FAFSA, please reach out to us to see how we can help.  Visit Special or Unusual Circumstances for more information.