Undocumented Students

On April 27, 2018, the Connecticut General Assembly enacted a new state law that allows undocumented students to apply for institutional financial aid at state schools.  These students must meet certain age, residency, and criminal history requirements.  Students must submit an affidavit to Charter Oak State College about their intent to legalize their immigration status when they are eligible to do so.  This does not apply to non-immigrant visa holders.

Undocumented veterans may be eligible for institutional financial aid.  To be eligible, veteran students must meet the following criteria:

• Honorably discharged veteran of the US Armed Forces;
• Thirty years of age or younger on June 15, 2012;
• Fifteen years of age or younger upon arrival to the United States with continuous residency since arrival; and
• Have not been convicted of a felony in this state or another state.

Undocumented students may also apply for institutional financial aid consideration.  To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

• Classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes;
• Thirty years of age or younger on June 15, 2012;
• Sixteen years of age or younger upon arrival to the United States with continuous residency since arrival; and
• Have not been convicted of a felony in this state or another state.

Institutional financial aid is awarded on the basis of financial need and fund availability.  In order to be considered for institutional financial aid, undocumented students must meet these additional eligibility requirements:

• Classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes;
• Must be accepted into an undergraduate degree program (institutional aid is not available for certificate program students or graduate program students);
• Must be enrolled at least half-time (6 or more credits per semester);
• Must be meeting Charter Oak's Satisfactory Academic Progress policy;
• Must meet priority deadlines or requirements published by Charter Oak related to the receipt of institutional financial aid.
• The Office of Financial Aid encourages undocumented students to search for scholarship opportunities from additional resources.  Many organizations do not have restrictions based on citizenship or legal status.

The financial aid application for Connecticut Undocumented Students can be found here.