Connecticut’s Tuition-Free Program

Omar J. Livingston

^{Director of Financial Aid Operations and Outreach}

About Me

Omar J. Livingston

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^{HS: Westhill High School (1996)}

^{AS: Finance and Banking, CT State Community College Norwalk (‘2001)}

^{BS: Business Management, Albertus Magnus College (2010)}

^{Over 20 years in Financial Aid}

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Financial Aid Distribution – Fall 2025

• 76% of all CT State students applied for financial aid
• More than 43,600 applicants
• Nearly 29,900 recipients
• 17,000+ Pell Grant recipients
• 19,000+ Free Tuition recipients
• 7% of financial aid students utilized student loans

Many Names … One Program

• Debt-Free Community College
• PACT (Pledge to Advance Connecticut)
• Free Tuition Program
• Mary-Ann Handley Awards

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• https://www.ctstate.edu/free-tuition

Pledge to Advance Connecticut (PACT) was established by our Connecticut legislature in 2019 to provide free tuition for students attending all twelve community colleges. PACT bridges the tuition gap students may have after receiving scholarships and other financial aid. 

About Debt Free College CT State

• Since Fall 2020
• 33,543 students served and $91.7 million distributed
• 405% increase in recipients, 482% increase in awards
• 2020-21: 3,911 students and $6.1 million
• 2024-25: 20,006 students and $35.5 million
• 53% of students in TAP majors are Free Tuition recipients
• 2,560 recipients graduated this past year
• Free Tuition recipients vs. Other CT State Students
• 12pp higher retention rate (74% vs. 62%)
• 6pp higher graduation rate (28% vs. 22%)

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Program Demographics: 2024-25

• 35% Hispanic/Latine
• 16% Black/African American
• 59% BIPOC
• 59% Women
• 20% Household Income < $30,000
• 53% Part-time

These figures are generally representative of the CT State demographic

About Financial Aid at CT State

• 70% of all CT State students filed a financial aid application
• 65% of all CT State students received financial aid
• 51% of all CT State students paid $0 in tuition and fees
• 45% of all CT State students received a Pell Grant
• 32% of all CT State students received a Free College Award

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• More than $100 million in grant aid distributed
• 400 DACA/Undocumented recipients

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History of Free College in Connecticut

2020-2021 Program Eligibility

2024-2025 Program Eligibility

• Pledge to Advance Connecticut (PACT) Program
• New, 1st Time Student in Fall 2020 or Later
• Must Enroll Full-Time
• Graduate from a CT High School
• Must Be Continuously Enrolled (Fall and Spring)
• Awards Equal to the Unpaid Portion of Tuition and Fees After Accepted Grant Aid, or $250
• Fall 2022 – Spring 2024
• Expanded to Include Part-Time Students (6-11 credits)
• Updated – Available for 72 Earned Credits over 48 Months
• Awards
• Per Semester, the Unpaid Portion of Tuition & Fees After Financial Aid Award, or
• Full-Time = $250
• Part-Time = $150

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• Began Any College Fall 2020 or Later
• Can Enroll Full-Time or Part-Time (6+ Credits)
• Graduate from Any High School
• No Continuous Enrollment Required
• Awards Equal to the Unpaid Portion of Tuition and Fees After Accepted Grant Aid, or $500 (FT), or $300 (PT)
• Updated – “Mary Ann Handley Award”
• Still Available for 72 Earned Credits
• New – Open to Transitional Students without a High School Diploma

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• Eligibility that did not change: CT Residency Required; File a FAFSA Annually and complete all Financial Aid Requirements; Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements, CPOS.

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Program Awards

• If tuition and fees are not covered by existing financial aid
• Covers the Account Balance Due

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• If tuition and fees are covered by existing financial aid
• Full-Time Award = $500
• Part-Time Award = $300
• Not eligible in summer semesters

Program Notes

• Complete the FAFSA!
• There is no separate application
• There is no program deadline, priority deadline of semester census!
• AACTUS Students (Undocumented/DACA) are not eligible
• Does not include funding for books and supplies
• FA Office will provide awards when all criteria are met
• FAFSA complete
• All requested documents submitted and reviewed by priority deadline
• Registered for at least six (6) credits
• Available for Fall and Spring Semesters
• Can combine Winter and Spring Enrollment
• Not available for any Summer Sessions
• Enrolled in a Title IV Eligible Program

�Free Tuition Program Funding History��

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Comparison Federal Grant and MAH Award

2024-25 Aid PAID to students as of 10/3/25

• Mary Ann Handley Award “Tuition Free College”: $35.5M to 20,006 students

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2024-25 Aid PAID to students as of 10/3/25

• Federal Pell Grant: $83.2M to 21,014 students

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Promoting Affordability

• Graduate from CT State Community College debt-free
• Pay for a 4-year degree for the price of two
• Preserve federal loan eligibility
• https://ctstate.edu/free-tuition

Financial Literacy

• We provide a web-based and mobile-ready platform at no cost
• Personalized learning with relevant courses and real-time feedback
• An easy-to-navigate library of learning resources
• Methods to measure financial health
• Recommendations with calculators and individualized money management assessments
• Exploratory information around the cost of loan borrowing, setting financial goals, and exploring careers

Financial Literacy

• We believe that each CT State student should feel financially empowered through financial literacy. Financial Literacy involves understanding the basics of budgeting, interest rates, how to save money, and how to avoid credit-debt cycle traps. We want our students to feel they have the skills and knowledge to make informed and effective decisions with their financial resources.  We want you to have the tools to not just afford your education, but all of the life that surrounds it.
• Student Registration

Communicating with Students

• College-provided email is our main method of communication
• Self-service portal available (myCTState)
• Billing
• Financial Aid Information
• Missing Requirement Dashboard
• Electronic Document Submission
• Submitting the aid application is not the last step
• We regularly reach out to students who are incomplete

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Financial Aid Information

• Website: https://ctstate.edu/financial-aid
• Financial Aid Workshops: https://ctstate.edu/fafsa-workshops
• Net Price Calculator: https://ctstate.edu/net-price-calculator
• Resources: https://ctstate.edu/financial-aid#resources

Contact Us … Please!

Omar J. Livingston, Director of Financial Aid Operations and Outreach

Phone: 203-332-5049

Email: omar.livingston@ctstate.edu

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Campus Financial Aid Offices

Websites: https://ctstate.edu/

https://ctstate.edu/financial-aid#campuses

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