Did you know you may be able to attend CT State for free? The Mary Ann Handley Award program provides tuition-free funding that covers the gap between federal and state grants you receive and community college tuition and mandatory fees. 

How to Qualify

• Be a Connecticut high school graduate (GED and home-schooled students qualify)

• Be a first-time college student

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), with an official Expected Family Contribution, which is used to package federal, state, and often institutional aid and accept all awards

• Attend community college part- or full-time (6+ credits/semester)

• Enroll in a degree or credit-bearing certificate program

• Once enrolled, remain in good academic standing

To learn more about PACT, go to: https://ctstate.edu/free-tuition

Both the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system and the University of Connecticut offer transfer programs that enable qualified students in the Connecticut community college system to transfer to Eastern, Southern, Central or Western Connecticut State University, or the University of Connecticut to continue their education without unnecessary duplication of credits. Students who participate in a transfer program may earn an associate degree from one of Connecticut’s twelve community colleges and then transfer to ultimately earn a bachelor’s degree from a public four-year institution.

To learn more about the University of Connecticut’s Guaranteed Admission Program for students of Connecticut community colleges, click here.

To learn more about the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities’ Transfer Tickets program for students of Connecticut community colleges who wish to transfer to a four-year institution, click here.