Financial Aid

Worcester State College undergraduate students may apply for financial aid to assist in meeting the cost of education for approved study away and exchange programs. Many students have been able to participate in foreign study away programs with the assistance of loans, grants and/or scholarships. It is very important that students who plan to use financial aid to help pay for study away apply early. This will enable you to determine whether you will be financially eligible to participate in study away and you will receive notification of your award before the payment deadline.

Students enrolled in study away are still considered to be enrolled at Worcester State College. If you enroll in the Worcester England, Portugal, or Puerto Rico Exchange Programs, or any other of Worcester State College’s exchange programs you will be charged Worcester State College tuition and fees. All other study away students are charged by CCIS or by the institution they plan to attend according to individual institutional charges.

A student’s financial need, after expected family contribution, may be met with federal and state grants, outside scholarships and/or student loans. Additional financial need is calculated on the basis of the estimated costs of the study away program. If the total cost of the study away program exceeds the Worcester State College campus budget, the additional costs may be covered by loan funds (subject to availability). Because work study cannot be assigned during the period of study away there may be a gap in your financial aid package that may be filled with an additional loan. If loan funds are not available or they are declined, this amount must be covered with additional family contribution or other resources.

If you have been awarded an outside scholarship, you must notify the awarding organization of your plans to study away in order to verify that your outside scholarships will continue to be awarded to you for the study away period. If a change occurs in the amount of an outside scholarship due to study away, a letter from the organization must be sent to the Financial Aid Office in order to verify the change. You must also notify the Financial Aid Office of any loan or grant awarded by the institution that sponsors your study away program.

1. Federal Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA)

2. Worcester State College Application for Financial Aid

3. Study Away Application for Financial Aid

4. Study Away Budget

5. Verification of Study Away Costs

A late application can jeopardize the availability of financial aid. Although a tentative award may be calculated, financial aid will not be released until all required materials have been submitted and reviewed. Please submit all materials as soon as they are requested.

1. Sample budgets for each CCIS Study Away program are available in the CCIS Catalog.

2. All other study away charges can be determined with the assistance of the Coordinator of International Programs located in the Student Center in room SC324.

3. Budgets for Worcester State College Exchange Programs consist of the following:

Current Worcester State College:	tuition and fee charges $2544
	book charges $816
	dorm charges $3300
in addition to allowances for:	board $1900
	transportation $1300*
	passport $65

1. Costs associated with CCIS programs can be verified with a photocopy of the appropriate page from the CCIS Catalog.

2. Costs for Worcester State College Exchange Programs can be taken from the above listing.

3. All other study away charges must be verified by a statement from the participating institution.

Financial aid awards will be credited to your Worcester State College student account. If financial aid exceeds your current semester charges, the excess funds may be released to assist in paying study away expenses.

1. All financial aid for study away materials have been submitted and reviewed by a financial aid officer, and your financial aid award has been processed.

2. Student loans have been completely processed and Perkins and/or Stafford Loan promissory notes have been signed. Although these funds generally cannot be released before the semester begins, it is often possible to sign the promissory notes for both loans early, before departing for the study away program. The Financial Aid Office will mail you promissory notes for early signing in June-August or in December.

4. The Advance/Refund form is completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office.

5. A statement from the sponsoring institution is submitted to the Bursar’s Office for payment.

Please contact your financial aid counselor for a possible early release of excess financial aid funds. If funds remain after the charges at Worcester State College and/or another sponsoring institution are paid in full, an advance may be issued to assist in paying room and board, airfare or other expenses listed in the Budget for Study Away.