The University of Connecticut awarded $5 million more in financial aid this academic year through grants, scholarships, loans and work-study than last year, Stephanie Reitz, UConn spokesperson, said. (File/The Daily Campus)
The University of Connecticut awarded $5 million more in financial aid this academic year through grants, scholarships, loans and work-study than last year, Stephanie Reitz, UConn spokesperson, said.
“Thus far in 2018-19, $510 million in financial aid has been awarded to approximately 20,700 UConn students from federal, state, university and private sources,” Reitz said.
This compares to roughly $505 million awarded to approximately 21,600 UConn students during the 2017-18 academic year, Reitz said. Though enrollment has increased by 200, funding per student has increased slightly.
“UConn’s financial aid program is guided by four principles,” Reitz said. “It is a need-blind admissions process. A student’s economic circumstances are not considered during the review of their academic qualifications.”
This keeps the admissions and financial aid processes separate, Reitz said.
“We maintain a strategic enrollment approach that shapes the admitted class to draw highly talented students from a range of geographic, socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds, helping ensure diversity,” Reitz said.
Some financial aid programs are merit or talent-based while others are need-based, and many students receive funding based on both criteria, Reitz said.
“(UConn has) a commitment to provide aid to the neediest students first, particularly those from Connecticut,” Reitz said. “We keep the students’ financial aid at the same level during their studies if their economic circumstances don’t change and if they maintain required academic standards.”
Financial aid eligibility is determined by the information provided on students’ FAFSA applications, Reitz said.
“The overall evaluation process takes into account both direct and indirect educational expenses such as tuition, fees, room & board and transportation,” Reitz said. “We’ve steadily increased the financial aid budget every year.”
FAFSA applications are due for UConn on March 1.
Naiela Suleiman is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at naiela.suleiman@uconn.edu.
