Connecticut Capitol Scholarship Program provides state grants to help talented and needy students pay for college

/Home/Student Loan Information by State/Connecticut Student Loans

The Capitol Scholarship Program provides state grants to
help talented and needy students pay for college. It is not a
merit program; priority is given to those who are least able
to contribute to college costs. Students may use the
grants at any eligible college or university in
Connecticut, and in states which have reciprocal
arrangements with Connecticut (the District of
Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont).
The Connecticut Department of Higher Education
administers the program. All inquiries and applications
should be directed to the Capitol Scholarship Program,
Connecticut Department of Higher Education,
61 Woodland Street, Hartford, CT 06105-2326
(860/947-1855).

Students should give their completed applications to their
high school guidance counselor or college admissions
officer. Counselors/Registrars should complete their part of
the application and submit the entire form by February
15th to the Connecticut Department of Higher Education.
New applicants will be notified in writing about the status of
their applications by July 1st. Awards are sent directly to
colleges for deposit into student accounts. Half of the
award is sent in the fall after the college confirms a
student's eligibility and enrollment. The balance is sent to
the college in the spring following enrollment confirmation.
Grant Amounts for 2009-2010
For students attending eligible Connecticut postsecondary
institutions:
4-year degree & 2-year private $2,000 - $3,000
2-year public $500 - $1,000
Students attending eligible colleges out-of-state receive
$500 grants.
Awards may be adjusted for students who are enrolled less
than full-time, but at least half-time. The number of awards
depends on available funding.

Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, you must:
1. be a legal resident of Connecticut;
2. have completed a Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15th, and
received a valid Expected Family Contribution
(EFC);
Program Information
3. be a secondary school senior or graduate;
4. have a cumulative class rank in the top 20% at the
end of the junior year for high school seniors (upon
graduation for all others) OR have combined scores
(math, critical reading, writing) of 1800 or better on
any one sitting of the Scholastic Aptitude Test or 27
or better on the ACT; and
5. have not previously received a baccalaureate
degree.

How to Apply
For First-Time Applicants
Complete and sign the reverse side of this application and
give it to your high school guidance counselor or college
admissions officer. Also complete the 2009-2010 FAFSA,
available from your guidance counselor, financial aid officer
or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov by February 15th. FAFSA
will automatically release your completed information to the
Capital Scholarship Program.
If you are a high school senior who does not rank in the
top 20% of your class at the end of your junior year, but
you have scored at least 1800 on the SAT or 27 on the
ACT, you must ask your high school counselor to verify
your scores.
If you are not a high school senior, but have either
graduated in the top 20% of your high school class or have
SAT scores of 1800 or better or 27 or better on the ACT,
you must ask a high school counselor or a college
admissions officer to document this information on the
reverse side.

Continued Eligibility
Students who submit a 2009-2010 application will be
considered for an award in future years if a completed
FAFSA is submitted by April 30th. Students selected for
renewal awards will be notified in writing.
Other Aid Sources
To learn about other sources of student financial aid, visit
the Department of Higher Education's website at
www.ctdhe.org or call the toll-free Education &
Employment Information Center Hotline at 800/842-0229,
Monday - Friday, 8:30 am. - 4:00 pm.