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Education & Student Aid

Congressman Larson is committed to making higher education accessible and affordable.  Below are questions you may have about the financial aid process.  We have provided links to resources available to help students finance higher education.  As always, if you have any questions not covered in the Frequently Asked Questions section please contact Congressman Larson's office at (860) 278-8888.

Q: Are loans available to finance my college education? 

A: The first step to determine eligibility for grants, loans and scholarships is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Your college uses your FAFSA data to determine your federal aid eligibility. Many states and colleges use FAFSA data to award their own aid. Loans are the most common federal aid and must be repaid when you graduate or leave college.  The federal government offers two types of student loans: direct subsidized and direct unsubsidized (sometimes referred to as Stafford loans). Direct subsidized are available to students with demonstrated financial need. Perkins Loans are a type of direct subsidized student loans undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Unsubsidized student loans are available to all students, regardless of need. You can find the application for FAFSA here.  

Q: Does the State of Connecticut provide any resources to help finance my higher education? 

A: Yes! We encourage you to visit the Connecticut Office of Higher Education’s website to learn about the various scholarship opportunities open to CT students, and the CT Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA) program. Additionally, if you are the graduate of a Connecticut high school, you may qualify for free Connecticut community college tuition through the Pledge to Advance Connecticut (PACT) program. Please visit their website for more information. 

If you are still planning for college, please consider, Connecticut’s 529 college savings program, the Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET).  It is a tax advantaged, low expense savings program.  To learn more about CHET at the website of the Connecticut State Treasury please click here.

Q: I was told to be aware of scholarship scams.  What are signs of scams? 

A: It is very important to be aware of questionable tactics scammers use.  Some so-called “scholarship services” might make claims that you can’t get the same information anywhere else, and they might request your credit card number or they ask you to send them money to claim a scholarship.  As with online, email and phone scams be wary of anyone asking for your credit card information or any non-governmental site asking for your social security number. You can also acquire more information on scholarship scams through the Federal Trade Commission.   

Q: As a veteran where can I find more information on education benefits? 

A: Thank you for your service to our country! The Department of Veterans Affairs has a variety of education benefits for former and active military and their families. For the most up to date information on education benefits please visit the VA education website.    

Q: What universities in Connecticut provide funding to veterans? 

A:  Taking care of our service members is paramount in expressing our gratitude. The Connecticut State University System has adopted a policy that waives tuition for veterans and National Guard members who attend Central, Eastern, Southern or Western state universities. Tuition is also waived at Connecticut’s 12 community colleges. For more information, please visit the Connecticut State College Universities veteran’s benefits site.   

Q: I am thinking about joining the military.  How can I go to school and plan for the military? 

A: Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) is a program for students who want to be commissioned as officers after graduating from college.  You can find more information at the website of the U.S. Army ROTC, U.S. Navy ROTC or Air Force ROTC. If you’re looking to receive a Congressional nomination to a military academy, you can find more information here.    

Q: I heard there are work study programs that give students jobs at school.  Where can I learn more about these programs?  

A: After you complete the FAFSA and are deemed eligible, students can contact their university and apply for a job placement at your school.  Students are paid hourly. Student employment with the Federal Government may also be an option. To find out more about student educational employment please click here.

Q: I just graduated from college and am having trouble managing my student loans. Is there any government money for students like me? 

A: The U.S. Department of Education offers forbearance and deferment options for some federal student loans. Deferment is a temporary postponement of payment on a loan that is allowed under certain conditions and during which interest generally does not accrue on Direct Subsidized Loans, the subsidized portion of Direct Consolidation Loans, Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans, the subsidized portion of FFEL Consolidation Loans, and Federal Perkins Loans. All other federal student loans that are deferred will continue to accrue interest. 

Forbearance is a period during which your monthly loan payments are temporarily suspended or reduced. Your lender may grant you a forbearance if you are willing but unable to make loan payments due to certain types of financial hardships. During forbearance, principal payments are postponed but interest continues to accrue.  You will need to contact your loan servicer to discuss your options.  Please visit the Federal Student Aid section of the Department of Education’s website.   

Q: How can I qualify for the Income-Driven Repayment Program? 

A: Nearly any borrower can qualify for some type of income-drive repayment program on their federal student loans.  Due to the changes in loans and repayment options triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, please review the Department of Education Student Aid website for more details on current programs and requirements.  

Links: 

Virtual Student Foreign Service Opportunities 

U.S. Department of Education 

Connecticut Department of Higher Education 

To learn more about Rep. Larson’s efforts for education, you can click here.  

Virtual Student Federal Service Opportunities 

The U.S. Department of State accepts applications from domestic undergraduate and graduate students for its Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) Program annually from July 1-31. The Virtual Student Federal Service program affords student-volunteers the opportunity to work remotely with a wide array of federal agencies projects even if the student cannot be there in person.