College Affordability Resources
1. Understanding College Costs
What is included in the cost of college? Ask colleges to provide you a detailed breakdown of the bill, listing all cost items. This will help you compare schools and explore options for how to lower your costs.
| Tuition | The cost of instruction and access to academic resources like professors, classrooms, and curriculum materials. |
| Mandatory Fees | Additional charges required of all students to fund specific services or facilities beyond instruction. |
| Housing | You are charged a housing fee only if you live on campus. Colleges offer a variety of residence halls and room styles at different rates. Choose an option that fits your budget. If living on campus is not affordable, consider off-campus housing options or living with your family and commuting to college. |
| Meal Plan | Colleges offer a variety of meal plans at different rates. Choose an option that fits your budget. Sometimes a certain meal plan is required with on-campus housing options. |
| Waivable Fees | Waivable fees are fees that you can opt out of, such as health insurance. Most young adults can stay on their parents’ family plan until they turn 26. |
Calculate your total direct costs by adding the cost items above.
2. Understanding Financial Aid
How to pay for college? Explore financial aid from a variety of sources and apply for all types of aid you may be eligible for.
| Federal Grants |
The need-based grants offered by the U.S. Department of Education. You must complete The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year to receive federal grants. Your college uses the information on the FAFSA form to determine your eligibility for a Pell Grant, and if so, how much you’re eligible to receive. Your college will award FSEOGs to students that have the most financial need. The federal grants do not need to be repaid. |
| University Grants |
The need-based grants funded or awarded by the university to help students who demonstrate financial need to afford their education. Also known as institutional grants. Visit your college financial aid office to talk about your financial need and request for more grants. The university grants do not need to be repaid. |
| University Scholarships |
The merit-based scholarships funded or awarded by the university to students who demonstrate academic excellence, athletic ability, leadership etc. Many scholarships are renewable for multiple years, but they often require maintaining a specific GPA or other criteria. For example, New Haven Promise’s university match is a university scholarship paid by the partner university. The university scholarships do not need to be repaid. University scholarships can sometimes be negotiable, especially if you have strong qualifications or competing offers from other colleges. Visit your college financial aid office to negotiate a better offer. |
| Third-Party Scholarships |
Scholarships funded and managed by external organizations, rather than the university itself. For example:
Application eligibility, requirements, deadlines, renewability and award amounts vary widely by scholarship. The third-party scholarships do not need to be repaid. |
| Work-Study Jobs |
Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial needs, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. You must complete FAFSA to get a work-study job. |
| Federal Loans |
Federal Student Loans include Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct unsubsidized Loan etc. When you apply for FAFSA, you might be offered loans as part of your college’s financial aid offer. Federal student loans usually have more benefits than private loans. A loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest, so ONLY TAKE WHAT YOU NEED and reassess your borrowing needs each year. |
Calculate your total financial aid by adding the financial aid items above.
3. Calculate Your Student Account Balance Due
How to pay for college? Explore financial aid from a variety of sources and apply for all types of aid you may be eligible for.
| Account Balance Due |
= |
Total Direct Costs |
- |
Total Financial Aid |
If you have a positive balance due (Greater than $0), it is your responsibility to pay it off. Payment sources may include personal savings, earnings from jobs or internships, and contributions from family etc.
If you have a negative balance due (Less than $0), you should expect a refund from your college for the excess amount. We ask students to use the refund for college-related expenses and save a portion for future semesters when you have a balance to pay out-of-pocket.
Learn from Promise Scholars
4. Maximizing Your Financial Aid
In addition to the Promise Scholarships, You should not miss the following financial aid resources:
New Haven Scholarship Fund (NHSF)
Not to be confused with New Haven Promise, The New Haven Scholarship Fund (NHSF) was founded in 1959 by Jean Paton Lovell, a mathematics teacher at Hillhouse High School. It supports more than 100 New Haven students (including undocumented students) annually to attend both in-state and out-of-state colleges. Application normally opens in January through March 15.
Free Tuition at CT State Community College (formerly PACT)
Tuition-Free funding, designated as the “Mary Ann Handley Award” covers the gap between federal and state grants you receive, and community college tuition and mandatory fees. To receive funding, apply, register for classes (6+ credits), and fill out the FAFSA. Entry into the program will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. For more information, visit the financial aid office at your CT State Community College.
Aid Application for CT Undocumented Students (AACTUS)
AACTUS application is exclusively for a specific group of undocumented students who cannot apply for federal student aid. Visit the financial aid office at your college and ask for the application of undocumented student aid. Got help at CT Students for a Dream.
Roberta B. Willis Grant
This need-based grant is awarded to CT residents who file a FAFSA and meet a certain Student Aid Index (SAI) threshold that is determined annually. Must be a full-time student. There is also a small merit component that requires a separate application (available through the high school guidance office). For more information, visit the financial aid office at your college.
CSS profile
The CSS Profile is an online application used by colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal institutional aid. Each year CSS Profile unlocks access to more than $10 billion in nonfederal aid to thousands of students. Check your colleges’ information to determine whether they require the CSS Profile.
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Check out a list of scholarships administered or supported by the Community Foundation to support the education of students around the region.
Other scholarship resources to explore:
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Theta Epsilon Omega Chapter Scholarship
Each year, Theta Epsilon Omega Chapter awards a four-year scholarship, totaling up to $6,000, to a graduating senior in the top third of his or her class.
American Savings Foundation
The American Savings Foundation Scholarship is the largest independent college scholarship program from a single source of funds in Connecticut. Each year nearly 400 ASF Scholars attend community colleges, 4-year institutions, and technical or vocational programs in Connecticut and beyond.
Andrew Perez Mental Illness/Suicidal Awareness Education Scholarship
This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Andrew Perez by helping students push through their mental illnesses and pursue their education. Any BIPOC high school or undergraduate student who struggles with mental health may apply for this scholarship.
ARTE Inc.
(For current college students) ARTE Inc. is a non-profit dedicated to cultivating and promoting Latino art, culture, and education. ARTE has awarded over $125,400 in scholarships as of 2024! Applicants must be of Hispanic/Latino descent and must be a registered resident of Connecticut for a minimum of one year.
Big Future Scholarships
No essay, no minimum GPA or test score, or citizenship requirements. Just follow the steps for chances to win. The more steps you complete and the earlier you start, the more chances you have to win! Earn entries in monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 scholarships by completing the six qualifying steps on BigFuture. If you don’t win, your entry rolls over for the next month.
Big Y Scholarship
In tribute to both its employees and its customers, Big Y offers an annual scholarship program. All Big Y scholarships recognize academic merit and achievement. For Big Y customers and their dependents who are high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate students, community college students, and non-traditional students.
Blacks at Microsoft Scholarships
If you’re a Black high school senior seeking to pursue a degree in computer science, business, or a related field, we encourage you to apply to the Blacks in Microsoft Scholarship!
Sallie Mae-Bridging the Dream Scholarship
The Sallie Mae Fund’s Bridging the Dream Scholarship Program for High School Seniors helps make the dream of higher education a reality for outstanding students from under-resourced, underrepresented, and underserved communities.
Burger King Scholars
Scholarships range from $1,000 to $60,000 and are intended to offset the cost of attending college or post-secondary vocational/technical school. Recipients are selected through an application process that takes into consideration their grade point average (GPA), work experience, extracurricular activities, financial need and community service.
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation
The Coca-Cola Scholars Program scholarship is an achievement-based scholarship awarded to students in their final year of high school. Students are recognized for their capacity to lead and serve, as well as their commitment to making a significant impact on their schools and communities. 150 Coca-Cola Scholars are selected each year to receive this $20,000 scholarship.
TMCF | Bridging the Dream Scholarship for Graduate School Students
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and The Sallie Mae Fund are proud to offer financial assistance to outstanding students attending an accredited post-secondary graduate-level institution.
Connecticut Association of Professional Financial Aid Administrators (CAPFAA)
(For both undergraduate and graduate students) In order to be eligible for this scholarship, candidates must be attending current CAPFAA member institutions and meet the requirements. In 2020, we awarded six students $1,000 dollars each. Our goal is to increase the number of recipients and the amount awarded.
Connecticut Association of Latinos in Higher Education, Inc. (CALAHE)
For Latino Students who demonstrate financial need. Award categories include High School Seniors or GED equivalent and Undergraduate College Students
Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Eileen Kraus Scholarship
The Eileen Kraus Scholarship was established in 2016 in partnership with Kaman Corporation. The scholarship awards $5,000 yearly to one outstanding Connecticut woman beginning her first year of college or university.
Build a Better Future Award
For students who design and work on a community improvement project. You must be a graduating high school senior that will be attending a US-based university, college, or trade school to continue your education. We will award $10,000 to five new seniors, with the top recipient receiving an additional $5,000 grant to continue funding their project.
Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship
The Elks National Foundation awards 500 four-year scholarships to the highest-rated applicants in a competition. Male and female students compete separately. Ranging from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis, in a US college or university.
EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program
This program Provides scholarships and internships to outstanding students studying at Minority Serving Institutions (Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaskan-Native Serving Institutions, and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions) Scholarship provides funds for two years of undergraduate study to rising junior undergraduate students majoring in STEM fields that directly support NOAA’s mission.
Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Scholarship Program
(For rising seniors at a public or private four-year HBCU) The program awards $20,000 in scholarships each year to students enrolled in four-year HBCUs.
HBCU Black Students in STEM Scholarship Fund
This scholarship seeks to boost African American representation in STEM by supporting high school seniors interested in studying STEM at HBCUs.
The Healy Foundation
The Healy Foundation seeks to step in and give under-resourced, high-performing college juniors and seniors the financial means to finish their education at a time when unexpected personal hardship jeopardizes their academic aspirations.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Every year, HSF selects 10,000 outstanding students as HSF Scholars from a broad and talented pool of applicants. Scholars must be of Hispanic heritage. Award amounts range from $500 – $5,000, based on relative need.
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholarship
The Jackie Robinson Foundation provides a multi-faceted experience designed to not only address the financial needs of students who aspire to attend college but to guide them through the process of higher education. Applicants must be graduating, minority high school seniors who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence.
Mexican American Legal Defense Fund Scholarships
MALDEF’s Law School Scholarship Program is open to all law students currently enrolled full time at an accredited United States law school. Applicants are evaluated for their academic and extracurricular achievements, for their background and financial need, and, most important, for their demonstrated commitment to advancing Latino civil rights in their careers.
Milton Fisher Scholarship
The Milton Fisher Scholarship is a four-year renewable scholarship open to exceptionally innovative and creative high school seniors and first-time college freshmen. Apply for this scholarship if you are a student who has solved an artistic, scientific, or technical problem in a new or unusual way, or a student who has come up with a distinctive solution to problems faced by your school, community or family.
National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club Scholarships (NANBPWC)
Check out a list of scholarships administered by NANBPWC.
Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards
Penguin Random House awards college scholarships of up to $10,000 each to six public U.S. high school seniors, nationwide. Applicants must submit one original literary composition in English in one of the following genres of poetry, spoken word, fiction, personal essay/memoir, or book bans prompt.
Ron Brown Scholars Program
The Ron Brown Scholarship is a national scholarship for low-income African American high school seniors. Ron Brown Scholars receive $40,000 toward their college of choice, and are provided mentoring, leadership experiences, and service opportunities.
Scholarship America Dream Award
(For current college undergraduates) Applicants must demonstrate financial need and academic excellence and ability to overcome challenges and barriers. Also, Scholarship America offers a scholarship browser to help you filter and find scholarships that match your criteria and potential eligibility.
Science Ambassador Scholarship
(For both high school seniors and current college students) An annual scholarship for women & nonbinary students pursuing STEM
Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund
A scholarship for residents of New England states, with financial need, who display academic achievement, a commitment to serving others, a strong work ethic and leadership qualities. Must pursue a bachelor’s degree (BA, BS, BFA, BSN for example) for the first time.
The Frito-Lay Community Builder Scholarship
(For high school seniors and current college students) a needs-based scholarship aimed at students who demonstrate a commitment to uplifting and leading their communities. The Frito-Lay Community Builders Scholarship will award four students $25,000 each to help further their higher-education goals.
The Gates Scholarship
The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
The Cooke College Scholarship Promise is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation’s best four-year colleges and universities.
Promising Scholars Fund Inc
Promising Scholars provides scholarship support to African-American students who demonstrate high academic achievement, leadership, and community service. Students must be from Connecticut, and preference is given to students from the New Haven area.
TheDream.US National Scholarship
TheDream.US scholarships are for highly motivated undocumented students who want to get a college education but are unable to afford the cost.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)
TMCF offers a variety of scholarships for current college students, with varying eligibility requirements. Most scholarships are designed for students attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Historically Black Community College (HBCC), or Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs)
Tuition Funding Sources
Tuition Funding Sources is a massive scholarship database providing you with access to $41 billion in funding. Most of these opportunities come directly from colleges and universities – not just from competitive, national pools.
UNICO Foundation Scholarships
The UNICO Foundation, Inc. offers a range of scholarships with varying eligibility requirements. Some are for high school seniors, others for current college students, and certain scholarships are exclusively for Italian Americans.
Unigo
A scholarship search engine. Create a Unigo account, complete your scholarship profile and start applying to scholarships in your personal results.
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
UNCF is the nation’s largest private scholarship provider to minority group members. Each year, we award more than $100 million in scholarships to students attending more than 1,100 schools across the country, including our prestigious network of 37 HBCUs.
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
For minorities studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and related disciplines at select colleges.