TUITION, FEES, AND FINANCIAL AID

Student Expenses

As part of the Connecticut State System of Higher Education, Western Connecticut State University offers a high-quality education program at low cost. Details of the expenses follow.

Application Fee: all new graduate students pay $50 when filing an application for admission to the Office of Graduate Admissions. There is an additional $100 evaluation fee for doctoral candidates.

Tuition and Fees Per Semester (All rates subject to change)

The Office of Graduate Admissions does not guarantee that full-time study is possible each semester for all programs. Please check with the appropriate graduate program coordinator to obtain accurate information.

Part-Time Doctoral Students

Ed.D. Leadership Program:
In-state: $875 per semester hour; Out-of-state: $875 per semester hour includes

	In-state	Out-of-state
Tuition	$603 per semester hour	$603 per semester hour
General Fee:	$272 per semester hour	$272 per semester hour
Additional Fees:
Student Activity Fee:	$3 per semester hour (fall/spring terms only)	$3 per semester hour (fall/spring terms only)
Registration Fee:	$60 per semester (nonrefundable)	$60 per semester (non-refundable)

Ed.D. Nursing Program:
In-state, Out-of-state, New England Regional Student Program: $1,187 per semester hour includes


Tuition:	$808 per semester hour
General Fee:	$379 per semester hour
Additional Fees:
Student Activity Fee:	$3 per semester hour (fall/spring terms only)
Registration Fee:	$60 per semester (non-refundable)

Part-Time Master’s Students (less than 9 semester hours per semester)

In-state: $587 per semester hour; Out-of-state: $587 per semester hour includes

	In-state	Out-of-state
Tuition:	$389 per semester hour	$389 per semester hour
General Fee:	$198 per semester hour	$198 per semester hour
Additional Fees:
Student Activity Fee:	$3 per semester hour (fall/spring terms only)	$3 per semester hour (fall/spring terms only)
Registration Fee:	$60 per semester (nonrefundable)	$60 per semester (nonrefundable)

Full-Time In-State Connecticut Residents, Master’s Programs (9 semester hours per semester)

Tuition:*	$3,513.50
University Fee:	$459.00
General Fee:	$2,030.00
Student Activity Fee:	$99.50
Total:	$6,102.00 per semester

* Master of Fine Arts (Painting, Illustration, or Interdisciplinary) tuition: $4,464.00

* Master of Fine Arts in Professional and Creative Writing tuition: $3,871.50

Full-Time Out-of-State Residents, Master’s Programs (9 semester hours per semester)

Tuition:*	$9,051.00
University Fee:	$1,093.00
General Student Fee:	$2030.00
Student Activity Fee:	$99.50
Total:	$12,273.50 per semester

* Master of Fine Arts (Painting, Illustration, or Interdisciplinary) Tuition: $10,764

* Master of Fine Arts in Professional and Creative Writing tuition: $9,495

M.F.A. Professional Writing Program (less than 9 semester hours per semester)

In-state: $650 per semester hour; Out-of-state: $650 per semester hour includes

	In-state	Out-of-state
Tuition:	$452	$452
General Student Fee:	$198	$198
Additional Fees:
Student Activity Fee:	$3 per semester hour (fall/spring terms only)	$3 per semester hour (fall/spring terms only)
Registration Fee:	$60 per term (nonrefundable)	$60 per term (nonrefundable)

Fees for Online CSU

In-State:

$587 per semester hour

(tuition $389 per semester hour plus general student fee $198 per semester hour)

Out-of-State:

$587 per semester hour

(tuition $389 per semester hour plus general student fee $198 per semester hour)

Additional Fees:

Online Registration Fee:

$50 per course, nonrefundable

All online courses (full- or part-time, in- or out-of-state resident) pay a $50 online registration fee for each registered online course.

Auditing a Class

Students who wish to audit a class pay the same tuition as those who are taking the course for credit. You may register online, in person, or through the mail.

Refund Policies

Refund Policy for Part-Time Students (applies to fall and spring semesters, also winter and summer sessions courses that are eight weeks or longer) Non-attendance does not entitle students to a credit on their tuition and fee bill, formal withdrawal through the Graduate Office is required.

Tuition refunds for part-time students will be issued on the following basis:

Withdrawal through the first week of classes:………………………………….100% refund
Withdrawal though the second week of classes:…………………………………60% refund
Withdrawal through the third and fourth week of classes:……………………40% refund

No refunds will be issued after the fourth week of classes. The registration fee is nonrefundable except when the university cancels a course.

Tuition and Fees Refund Policy for Full-Time Students (fall and spring semesters)

Nonrefundable fees include the application fee, admissions binder, and housing deposit.

To be eligible for a refund, a full-time student must formally withdraw from the university. Nonattendance of classes does not entitle you to a refund.

A refund of the tuition, university, and student activity fees, excluding the application fee and deposit, will be issued in accordance with the schedule below. The amount of the refund will be determined on the basis of the official date of withdrawal:

Up to the day before the first day of classes:…………………………….100% refund
Withdrawal through the first week of classes:…………………………….90% refund
Withdrawal through the second week of classes:………………………..60% refund
Withdrawal through the third and fourth week of classes:……………40% refund

No refunds will be issued after the fourth week of classes. The registration fee is nonrefundable except when the university cancels a course. These refund figures assume charges have been paid in full; if not, students who withdraw may actually owe a balance to WCSU.

Refund Policy for Courses Three to Seven Weeks in Length (applies to fall and spring semesters, also winter and summer session courses)

Tuition refunds for these classes will be issued on the following basis:

100% of refundable term charges will be cancelled during the first 3 calendar days of the term;
60% of refundable term charges will be cancelled during the fourth, fifth and sixth calendar day of the term;
40% of refundable term charges will be cancelled during the seventh, eighth, and ninth calendar day of the term;
No cancellation of charges after the ninth calendar day of the term.

No refunds will be issued after the ninth calendar day of the term. The registration fee and online is nonrefundable except when the university cancels a course.

Refund Policy for Courses Less than Three Weeks in Length (applies to fall and spring semesters, also winter and summer session courses)

Tuition refunds for these classes will be issued on the following basis:

100% of refundable term charges will be cancelled during the first 2 calendar days of the term;
60% of refundable term charges will be cancelled during the third and fourth calendar day of the term;
No cancellation of refundable charges after the fourth day of the term.

The $60 Registration Fee, the $50 online fee are non-refundable only in cases where the university cancels the class.

No refunds will be issued after the fourth day of the term. The registration fee and online fee is nonrefundable except when the university cancels a course.

Board Fee Refund

This fee is refundable, upon withdrawal from the university, on a prorated basis. Full weeks will be used to prorate.

Procedures for Students Receiving Assistance under Title IV

Both full-time and part-time students who formally withdraw from the university and who are recipients of the Title IV funds should contact the Office of Financial Aid & Student Employment immediately at wcsufinancialaid@wcsu.edu to discuss the impact withdrawing will have on their financial aid award.

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The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment

How to Apply for Financial Aid

In order to receive financial aid, a graduate student must be matriculated and registered for at least six credits per semester. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov, and complete according to instructions. The university’s school code, 001380, is required. Please be sure to obtain an FSA ID prior to completing the online form. You can apply for an FSA ID by going to http://fsaid.ed.gov.

Applicants should make every attempt to utilize the IRS Data Retrieval Tool when completing the FAFSA. If at the time of completing the FAFSA form you are unable to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool because your taxes were recently filed or were not filed yet, you must update your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool once you have filed your taxes. Some individuals may not be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval due to other circumstances.

Maintaining Eligibility

What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?

Students receiving financial assistance under the federally supported Title IV Programs must comply with the following set of standards to be eligible for such assistance. Such standards are referred to as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and are measured on a per-term basis. SAP is an assessment of your cumulative academic record at Western Connecticut State University. This policy is separate and apart from other academic policies at the university.

There are three components measured and weighed in determining SAP to ensure successful completion of a degree within a timeframe consistent with federal regulations.

Students applying for financial aid must maintain status as a matriculated graduate or undergraduate. Matriculated students will be evaluated for Satisfactory Academic Progress based upon qualitative and quantitative standards, as well as a Maximum Timeframe standard.

Students who enroll in the Fresh Start program will only have the credits retained and new GPA as calculated by Fresh Start included in the determination of their SAP status for the re-entry term.

Financial Aid Programs Affected by Satisfactory Academic Progress

SAP is required for all Title IV funds, state, university, and some alternative loan programs, including, but not exclusive to the following:

Federal Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity (SEOG) Grants
Federal Loans: Perkins; Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized; Direct Parent/Graduate PLUS Study Program
Federal Work Study Program
Roberta B. Willis Scholarship
Connecticut State University Grant
State scholarship and grant programs

How is SAP Determined?

Qualitative Measure

Grade Point Average (GPA) is the standard used to qualitatively measure Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students must meet and maintain the cumulative GPAs listed below:

Credits Earned	Minimum Cumulative GPA Required
Undergraduate: 0-29 credits	1.7
Undergraduate: 30+ credits	2.0
Graduate	3.0

QuantitativeMeasure

Pace: Matriculated undergraduate and graduate students must successfully complete two thirds (67%) of all cumulative credits attempted. For a summary of how attempted credits are classified for SAP purposes, see the table below:

*Counted as attempted* Credits**	Not counted as attempted Credits
Courses with grades A-F earned	Remedial Courses
Withdrawals- W, WF, WFP	Audited Courses
Repeated Courses	Courses never attended
Incompletes- INC, NG	Dropped Courses
Transferred Credits	Non-transferred credits
Pass/Fail Courses- P, FP	Exams (i.e. CLEP)
Courses taken as a nonmatriculated student
Fresh Start Courses with grades > C-
Courses assigned RM/RP
No Grade (NG)

For clarification on abbreviations, view WCSU’s grading system.

Below is an example demonstrating how Pace is calculated for SAP purposes:

Previous Transfer Credits	Attempted Fall 2013	Attempted Spring 2014	Total
30	12	15	57

The student has attempted a total of 57 credits across both semesters, including transfer credits. In order to find out how many credits the student must have completed in order to meet the Pace standard, multiply 57 x 0.67 = 38.19 The student must complete and pass 38.19 credits to be in compliance with the Pace requirement of SAP.

Maximum Timeframe

Undergraduate and graduate students may receive financial aid for attempted credits in their program of study that do not exceed 150% of the published credits needed to complete said program.

- Example: if a Bachelor’s degree takes a minimum of 120 credits to complete, multiply as follows to find 150%: 120 x 1.50 = 180 Therefore, a student in a Bachelor’s degree program may attempt up to 180 credits before s/he is considered noncompliant with the Maximum Timeframe standard.

This 150% credit rule is also applicable to students who have changed majors, or who seek a dual or second degree.

When is SAP calculated?

All financial aid recipients will be reviewed for Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of each payment period, and once grades are posted. Courses taken during the Winter and Spring Break intersessions will be included in the SAP calculations at the end of the spring semester payment period.

The Office of Financial Aid & Student Employment will review each file in accordance with the qualitative, quantitative, and Maximum Timeframe measures described.

If all SAP standards are met, the student will be assigned a status of “SAPOK” and will retain financial aid eligibility for the next term.

Failure to Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress

If a student fails to meet one or more of the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, a SAP Warning notification corresponding to the unmet standard(s) will be sent to the student via WestConn email. At any time, students may also check their SAP status on their Westconnduit account.

When an SAP Warning is administered, the student will still be eligible to receive financial aid for the immediate subsequent term, known as the SAP Warning term. If, at the end of the SAP Warning term the student is meeting the previously unmet standard(s), then the SAP Warning status is lifted and the student will maintain financial aid eligibility for the following term.

Students who fail to meet the SAP standard during the SAP Warning term will be ineligible for financial aid in the subsequent term or until such time as they again meet the requirements of SAP.

It is possible for a student to be placed on multiple consecutive SAP Warning terms if the SAP Warnings are issued for failing to meet two different standards.

Example: A student does not meet the Pace requirement for fall semester, and is given a Pace Warning for Spring semester. At the end of Spring semester, she is meeting the Pace requirement, but is not meeting the GPA requirement. The student will then receive a GPA Warning for the following Fall semester, and will still be eligible for financial aid.

Students who do not meet the Speed/Maximum Timeframe standard of SAP will not be granted a Warning term. These students will automatically lose financial aid eligibility, but may file an appeal to have their aid reinstated.

Regaining Eligibility

Apart from successfully appealing, or enrolling in an academic plan, students who are disqualified due to low GPA or low-credit hour completion will regain financial eligibility once they achieve the required GPA or credit completion as long as they have not completed more than 150% of their program requirements. Undergraduate students who are disqualified due to exceeding the 150% of the required units for their program will regain eligibility after they become a graduate student once the Bachelor’s degree is posted.

SAP Appeal Process

SAP Appeals will be accepted within 30 days of the date of SAP status notification, but no later than November 1 (fall) or April 1 (spring), whichever comes first.

If, after one SAP Warning term, the student does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress criteria, s/he may submit an appeal for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility. Appeals may be based on death of a relative, injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstances. SAP appeals must be written using the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form, and submitted with supporting documentation and a written explanation of what has changed that will allow the student to complete SAP during the next academic term. This form should be submitted to the SAP Appeal Committee, C/O Enrollment Services, Old Main 206.

If the appeal is approved by the committee, the student’s aid eligibility will be reinstated. Should an appeal be denied, financial aid will be cancelled for the next term.

Appeal Outcome and Academic Plan

If a student appeals successfully, financial aid eligibility will be reinstated for the following term. By the end of term, the student must be meeting the previously unmet SAP standard in order for financial aid to continue to be reinstated for future terms.

Students who fail to meet the standard will be ineligible for financial aid in the subsequent term or until such time as they again meet the requirements of SAP.

Some appeal approvals may be based upon a student’s enrollment/completion of an Academic Plan as developed by the SAP Appeal Committee. The Academic Plan will outline specific academic conditions that must be met in order to maintain financial aid eligibility.

Financial Aid Withdrawal Policy

What is a Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4)?

Federal regulations require Title IV financial aid funds to be awarded under the assumption that a student will attend the institution for the entire period in which federal assistance was awarded. When a student withdraws from all courses for any reason, including medical withdrawals, s/he may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that he/she was originally scheduled to receive. The return of funds is based upon the premise that students earn their financial aid in proportion to the amount of time in which they are enrolled. A prorated schedule is used to determine the amount of federal student aid funds he/she will have earned at the time of the withdrawal.

Thus, a student who withdraws in the second week of classes has earned less of his/her financial aid than a student who withdraws in the seventh week. Once 60% of the semester is completed, a student is considered to have earned all of his/her financial aid and will not be required to return any funds.

When is a Return of Title IV Funds Required?

If a student’s enrollment status changes for an entire term (i.e., official withdrawals and administrative withdrawals), the school must recalculate the student’s awards to determine the amount of aid s/he will have earned based on the date of withdrawal.

If a student does not begin attendance in all of his/her classes, the school must recalculate the student’s awards based on the lower enrollment status. For instance, a student registers for a full-time course load (15 credits) but only begins attendance in three classes (nine credits); in this case, the student’s awards must be recalculated based on the lower enrollment status (nine credits).

Timeline for a Return of Title IV Funds

The Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment must determine the amount of aid that was earned and how much was unearned; the unearned aid is returned to the U.S. Department of Education by WCSU on your behalf. WCSU is required to recalculate Title IV Funds within 30 days from the date of withdrawal. In the event that funds need to be returned, WCSU is required to return funds within 45 days from the date of withdrawal.

The amount of unearned aid will be returned to the U.S. Department of Education. Because the institutional refund policy is different from the Financial Aid Return of Title IV Funds policy, any return of funds may result in a balance due to WCSU. This is posted as a charge to your WCSU student account and must be repaid immediately.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursement

If you did not receive all of the funds that you earned prior to your date of withdrawal, you may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement. If your post-withdrawal disbursement includes loan funds, WCSU must get permission before it can disburse them by collecting a post-withdrawal Disbursement Permission form. You may choose to decline some or all of the loan funds so that you do not incur any additional debt. WCSU may automatically use all or a portion of your post-withdrawal disbursement grant funds for tuition, fees, and room and board charges (as contracted with the school). WCSU needs your permission to use the post-withdrawal grant disbursement for all other school charges. If you do not give permission, you will be offered the funds; however, it may be in your best interest to allow WCSU to keep the funds to reduce your debt at the school.

When is a Return of Title IV Funds Not Required?

If you withdraw from one or more courses during a semester but remain enrolled in classes, a Return of Title IV Funds is not required. Withdrawing from one or more courses can, however, affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress and, in turn, your financial aid eligibility for future semesters. Please see our Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

Student Employment

Student employment is an integral part of the university and of university life for many students. Student labor benefits the institution in almost every academic and administrative department on campus. The student’s employment can be related to his/her program of study and/or interests and work schedules can be arranged around the student’s academic schedule.

WCSU employs approximately 800 students during the academic year. The types of positions available are as diverse as the students themselves. A list of position announcements can be found on the Financial Aid website – wcsu.edu/finaid/student-employment.

To be eligible, students must be matriculated in a minimum of 6 credit hours at the university. Students are paid bi-weekly with an the hourly rate of pay contingent on the difficulty of position and the experience of the student.

There are two major funding sources for the student labor force at Western Connecticut State University: the Federal Work Study Program and Institutional Payroll.

The Federal Work Study Program is a federally funded program based on demonstrated financial need; work experience is not the qualifying factor. A Federal Work Study award is based on available funding and not guaranteed year to year.

The Institutional Payroll is state funded and is available to all students; it is not based on a student’s financial need. Students are employed based on the needs of each department, availability of funds, and the student’s experience in specific areas.

All federal and state funds are subject to federal and state regulations as mandated.

Graduate Assistantships

Several graduate assistantships are available to matriculated graduate students. Application forms can be secured in the Office of Enrollment Services, Old Main, Room 206.

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Office of Veterans Affairs

The Veterans Affairs Coordinator assists Veterans, members of the Selected Reserve and military-connected families in transitioning to higher education and is responsible for certifying the enrollment and changes in enrollment for students eligible for Veteran education benefits. The Office of Veterans Affairs is located on the Midtown campus in Old Main, Room 101 with office hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All current/former service members and family members are encouraged to contact the Office of Veteran Affairs in order to ease the transition into WCSU.

Tuition Waivers In addition to the federal benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans and Air/Army National Guard members who meet certain criteria may be eligible to receive a tuition waiver at WCSU after any federal tuition benefit received. The tuition waiver does not apply to other college costs such as books, fees, parking, and room and board and eligibility is not retroactive. For more information regarding eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit https://www.wcsu.edu/veterans. In order to begin using Veteran education benefits, the following documents must be submitted to WCSU’s Office of Veteran Affairs (Criteria depends on the benefit(s) for which you are applying):

Veteran Education Benefit:	Required Documents Needed:
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill	DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) & COE
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment	DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) & VA Form 22-1905
Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill (Veterans)	DD-214 (Member 4 Copy) & COE
Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill (Dependents)	COE
Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill (Yellow Ribbon Program)	DD-214 (Member 4 Copy & COE
Chapter 35: Dependents’ Educational Assistance	COE
Chapter 1606: Selected Reserve Educational Assistance	NOBE or COE
Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance	NOBE or COE
Connecticut State Veterans Tuition Waiver	DD-214 (Member 4 Copy)
Connecticut Army and Air National Guard Tuition Waiver	COE (provided by your Unit)

*In addition to the required documents needed, as noted above, students should also go to www.wcsu.edu/veterans/forms to complete any internal office forms that may be required.

Still Have Questions? Feel free to email WCSU’s Office of Veteran Affairs at vetinfo@wcsu.edu or call (203) 837–8840 for more information and/or for any additional questions you may have.