Financial Aid

Federal and state grants are based on current year funding from state and federal governments and are subject to change.  If any awards change due to funding availability, PSU will notify you after we receive official notification from the appropriate agency(ies)

Federal Pell Grants
Federal Pell grants are awarded to undergraduate students – those who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. Unlike a loan, repayment is not required. If you are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, PSU will determine the amount for which you qualify. The Federal Pell Grant is determined by a formula called Federal Methodology established by Congress and based on resources reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The formula produces an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) used to determine aid eligibility.

Beginning with the 2009-10 academic school year, students are eligible to use Pell Grants year round.  This means if students have been determined eligible for this grant, they have access to federal Pell grants funds for summer, fall, winterim, and spring semesters. Pell eligible students who wish to enroll during a summer or winterim need to contact our office to complete a request form.

PSU will assign any summer period to the upcoming award year.  New federal regulations apply and the comparison of payment amounts from each year will be made for any student who files a FAFSA for both prior and current year (the method for determining payment is the comparison between award years to see which yields the higher payment; thus, for a given student, the payment may have to be made out of the prior award year if that results in the higher payment).

If corrections are required, we may need to receive an updated FAFSA correction from the Department of Education before we can finalize your award. The amount of your award is determined by the cost of attendance at the institution, your status of full-time or part-time, and whether you attend school for a full academic year or less. You may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

Federal Supplemental Equal Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
A Federal SEOG is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need—that is, students with the lowest EFC’s as deemed by the data you report on your FAFSA. Priority is given to students who also receive Federal Pell Grants and file by PSU’s priority deadline of March 1. A Federal SEOG does not have to be paid back. Please note that every eligible student may not receive a Federal SEOG because awards are based upon the funding availability at PSU. Expected academic year Federal SEOG awards range from $200 to $600.

Federal TEACH Grant Program (TEACH)
The PSU Financial Aid Team does not participate in the Federal TEACH Grant Program.

STATE GRANTS are available to help needy undergraduate students. Many states in New England have grants available for their exceptionally needy students. Each state determines the amount of the award based on the Expected Family Contribution as determined through the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some states require an additional application be submitted to them.  Individual state deadlines may apply. Please contact your state for more information. *

Connecticut – (860) 947-1801
Maine – (207) 623-3263
Massachusetts – (617) 391-6070
Pennsylvania – (800) 233-0557
Rhode Island – (401) 736-1100
Vermont – (802) 654-3750

Note: Grants and Scholarships (Federal Pell, PSU Scholarship/Grants and state grants) make up the gift level awarded by PSU and if ANY federal/state awards change, there normally is an adjustment in PSU’s University Grant award (up or down).

*New Hampshire State Grants are no longer available as of the 2011-2012 academic year.