Financial aid resources: State programs

New England Journal of Higher Education, The, 2004

Connecticut

Connecticut Department of Higher Education

61 Woodland Street

Hartford, CT 06105

www.ctdhe.org

860/947-1855

Fax: 860/947-1311

Valerie F. Lewis, Commissioner

John J. Siegrist, Director of Financial Aid

Capitol Scholarship Program

Eligibility: Connecticut residents who demonstrate financial need and attend a Connecticut undergraduate college. Applicants must also have graduated in the top 20 percent of their high school class or scored above 1200 on the SAT. Grants are portable to other New England states. Award amount: $500 to $2,000 annually. Application: Deadline is February 15. Contact John J. Siegrist at the Conn. Dept. of Higher Education.

Connecticut Independent College Student Grant

Eligibility: Connecticut residents who are undergraduates at Connecticut independent colleges and demonstrate financial need. Award amount: up to $8,517 annually. Application: Contact college financial aid office.

Minority Teacher Incentive Program

Eligibility: Junior or senior-year students enrolled full-time in a teacher preparation program at a Connecticut college or university. Award amount: $5,000 grant for junior and senior year. Application: Contact the Conn. Dept. of Higher Education.

Loans

Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA)

342 North Main Street, Suite 202

West Hartford, CT 06117

www.chesla.org

860/236-1400

800/232-3357 (toll-free within Conn.)

Fax: 860/236-0910

Gloria F. Ragosta, Executive Director

Samuel Rush, Associate Director

Connecticut Family Education Loan Program

Eligibility: Students enrolled at least half-time at nonprofit colleges in Connecticut, or Connecticut residents enrolled at nonprofit colleges anywhere in the United States. Student or co-borrower must demonstrate creditworthiness. Award amount: from $2,000 up to the total cost of education per academic year, less other financial aid awarded. Application: contact Samuel Rush at CHESLA or visit www.chesla.org.

Connecticut Student Loan Foundation (CSLF)

525 Brook Street

P.O. Box 1009

Rocky Hill, CT 06067

www.cslf.com

800/237-9721

Fax: 860/257-1743

Mark W. Valenti, President

Federal Family Education Loan Program (Stafford and Plus loans)

Maine

Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) Education Assistance Division

5 Community Drive

P.O. Box 949

Augusta, ME 04332-0949

www.famemaine.com

800/228-3734

TTY: 207/626-2717

Fax: 207/623-0095

info@famemaine.com

Greg Gollihur, Director, Education Assistance Division

Maine Student Incentive Scholarship Program

Eligibility: Maine residents earning first bachelor's degree who demonstrate financial need. Grants are portable to the other five New England states, as well as the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. Award amount: $1,000 annually at public institutions; $1,250 annually at independent institutions. Application: File the FAFSA.

Maine Health Professions Loan Program (includes return service provision)

Eligibility: Maine residents attending any postgraduate program in medicine, osteopathic medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry or optometry. Award amount: maximum need-based amount is $20,000 per year. Application: Contact FAME.

Educators for Maine Program (includes return service provision)

Eligibility: Maine residents pursuing a teaching degree at an accredited institution. Loan amount: up to $3,000 annually. Application: Contact FAME.

Tax relief

The federal government administers several programs that provide tax relief for higher education savings and expenses, including the Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (formerly known as the Education IRA), and the Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credit programs. Information is available at www.ed.gov/inits/hope/index.html. Programs are described in Tax Benefits for Higher Education, Internal Revenue Service Publication 970. Information is available at www.irs.ustreas.gov or by telephoning 1-800-829-4059.

Tax-advantaged college savings plans

All 50 states offer college investing and savings plans, in accordance with section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Information is available at www.collegesavings.org.

Private Scholarship Program

Senator George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute

22 Monument Square, Suite 200

Portland, ME 04101

www.mitchellinstitute.org

207/773-7700

888/220-7209

info@mitchellinstitute.org

Mitchell Scholarship

Eligibility: Maine residents who are planning to enter their first year of college in the fall. 130 awards are made, one to a graduating senior from every public high school in the state planning to attend college in Maine. Students are selected on the basis of academic performance/potential, community service and financial need. For more information, call the Mitchell Institute at 1-888-220-7209 or visit the web site at www.mitchellinstitute.org.

Massachusetts

General Financial Aid Information

Higher Education Information Center

Boston Public Library

700 Boylston Street

Boston, MA 02116

www.heic.org

617/536-0200 or 800/442-1171 (within Mass.)

Fax: 617/536-4737

State Financial Aid Programs

Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance

454 Broadway, Suite 200

Reveve, MA 02152