Application Requirements

General Information
Charter Oak State College is committed to making sure that all eligible students can benefit from financial assistance. To start, we suggest you visit the U.S. Department of Education's web site for an overview of the financial aid process at StudentAid.ed.gov.

Eligibility for federal student aid programs is based on financial need and other criteria as determined by the information you reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some basic eligibility requirements are:

• Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate or complete a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as such under state law.
• Be an accepted applicant (pending matriculation) and have a minimum of nine (9) college credits from a regionally accredited institution. Apply for Admission.
• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
• Have a valid social security number/ unless you're from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau.
• Maintain "Satisfactory Academic Progress" toward degree requirements according to Charter Oak State College standards.
• Not owe money on a federal student grant.
• Certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan.
• Not be convicted of the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of a controlled substance during a period of enrollment for which you were receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study). ( Drug Worksheet )
• Registered with the Selective Service if required. You can use the electronic FAFSA to register, you can register at www.sss.gov, or you can call 1-888-655-1825. (TTY users can call 1-847-688-2567.)
• Certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.

Ready, Set, Apply for Financial Aid

FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA)
We recommend that you apply online because it is the fastest, most accurate and easiest way to apply for aid.

1. Incoming students must complete the FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
2. For returning students who have previously filled out a FAFSA and meet certain conditions, the U.S. Department of Education will send you an electronic notification for a Renewal FAFSA on the Web.

NOTE: Remember to include the college's six-digit federal school code (032343) in section five of your FAFSA.

Applying for financial aid is free when you use the FAFSA on the web site. You do not have to pay anyone to complete the FAFSA on your behalf or to have questions answered that you might have. Help is also available online or by contacting the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800-4-FED-AID (800-433-3243).

3. To be on time, the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA must be returned to the federal processor, with Charter Oak State College listed (032343), by our priority date as indicated on the Financial Aid Important Dates web link. Allow plenty of delivery time because we will use the date the Federal Processor RECEIVES the application.
4. The Federal Processor will process your FAFSA information and send Charter Oak State College the results electronically.
5. The U.S. Department of Education requires all institutions disbursing federal financial aid funds to verify the accuracy of the information students and their families submit as a basis for awarding aid. Students who are selected by the Federal Processor for "verification" must do the following: Independent students must send a signed copy of their federal tax return with all schedules and attachments, W-2's, and a verification worksheet indicating student's independent status to the Office of Financial Aid . Dependent students must send the Office of Financial Aid a signed copy of their federal tax return and a signed copy of their parents' federal tax return, with all schedules and attachments, and W-2's. Dependent students must also complete a verification worksheet.
6. All paperwork MUST have your name and student ID clearly written on every page.
7. When your file is complete an award letter will be generated and mailed to you by the Office of Financial Aid. If you are not eligible for institutional aid or for a Federal Pell Grant, you still may be eligible for federal student loan assistance if taking at least six credits.
8. If you are awarded a student loan, this award is conditional. You must complete Entrance Loan Counseling and your Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) in order to receive your loan funds.
9. You must also apply for admission to Charter Oak State College and become accepted before we can determine your financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Checklist

• Complete the FAFSA and list our federal school code, 032343, in step six.
• All classes must be semester-based and credit-based for the fall and spring semesters.
  Financial aid does not cover late fees, non-credit courses, CLEP/Dantes testing, COSC testing, transcript fees, portfolio assessment fees, or certificate program costs.
• Students may receive financial aid for courses taken at other regionally accredited institutions if those courses are financial aid eligible, meet our semester dates, and a consortium agreement is completed and is on file with the financial aid office at COSC.

If you are enrolling in non-Charter Oak classes, please follow the consortium school's polices and procedures regarding registration and remember to complete the appropriate Consortium Agreement as well.

Consortium Agreement Checklist for students taking non-Charter Oak classes:
Charter Oak State College allows students to take courses at eligible institutions throughout the United States. In order for these classes to be considered for financial aid, an approved consortium agreement must be in place between Charter Oak and the other institution.

The student's financial aid award will be processed and disbursed by Charter Oak (home institution).

Consortium students are also responsible for the following:

1. Student must register for classes and complete the institutional consortium agreement(s).
2. Student must make payment arrangements at the time of registration at the host institution. This will ensure that classes will not be dropped for non-payment.
3. Student must complete consortium agreement and allow sufficient time for the Office of Financial Aid Office to process the agreement prior to the start of classes.
4. Immediately notify Charter Oak's Office of Financial Aid of changes in enrollment status at the Host Institution (i.e., withdrawal, drop).
5. Student must request an official transcript to be sent to Charter Oak within 21 days of the end of the semester.
6. Be aware that only one educational institution may award you financial aid per term. Charter Oak State College (home institution) may process financial aid for its students taking classes at other schools (host institutions). In all cases, students must complete the institutional consortium form(s).

It Is Your Responsibility as a Financial Aid Student to:

• Stay informed of all Charter Oak State College financial aid information posted on our web page.
• Complete the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA each year and meet all eligibility requirements.
• Respond to all requests made by the college for additional financial aid documents. Examples of requests may include missing information letters and loan application data requests.

Note: The mailing of award notices generally begin in late June and will continue on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

• Email is the primary means by which the Office of Financial Aid will contact you, therefore check your CharterOak.edu email account on a regular basis. Remember to update your email address with our office if you change your email from the one that is listed on the FAFSA.
• Read all your financial aid paperwork and contact the financial aid office if you have any questions or concerns regarding the financial aid process.
• Report any outside sources of financial aid (i.e., scholarships, tuition reimbursements etc.).
• Purchase your textbooks prior to the start of the course(s).
• Contact your Charter Oak State College Academic or Admission Counselor, as soon as the college's course schedule becomes available to discuss your course selections.
• Request official transcript from consortium schools to be sent to Charter Oak within 21 days of the end of the semester.
• Complete your Entrance Loan Counseling requirements (for first time Stafford Loan borrowers and all students with prior loan histories who wish to borrow at COSC for the first time). (Entrance Loan Counseling)
• Complete your Direct Master Promissory Note (MPN) on request.
• Complete Exit Loan Counseling if you drop below half-time (5 credits or less), withdraw, or graduate from the college (for Stafford Loan borrowers who borrowed at COSC anytime during their enrollment).
• Contact the Office of Financial Aid at least two months prior to the start date of the study abroad program if you are interested in taking study abroad courses. We strongly recommend that you do not incur debt, or make any significant life adjustments, without prior approval of your study abroad opportunity by the Financial Aid Office.