Southern Connecticut State University will host a Student Loan Reimbursement Program Info Session featuring State Representative Corey P. Paris and State Senator Gary Winfield, ’06, on Tuesday, March 4, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Adanti Student Center Theater as well as online.
The session will provide students with details about Connecticut’s brand-new Student Loan Reimbursement Program, the first of its kind in the nation. In November, state leaders held a roundtable discussion at Southern’s School of Business ahead of the program’s January 1 launch.
Led by House Democrats, this first-of-its-kind initiative offers up to $5,000 per year in loan forgiveness for up to four years (a maximum of $20,000). A total of $6 million has been allocated in the current budget cycle, with funds awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Paris, a co-creator of the program, and Winfield will be on hand at Southern to offer a program overview and answer questions from audience members and online viewers.
“Student loan debt is a pressing issue impacting countless graduates, particularly first-generation students and those with high financial need,” Interim President Dwayne Smith said. “Programs like this provide hope and create pathways for equitable access to higher education.”
The Office of Higher Education (OHE) may approve applicants who meet the following requirements:
- Educational Background: Must have graduated from a Connecticut public or private college or university with a bachelor’s or associate degree, hold an occupational/professional license or certificate, or have left college in good standing with a hardship waiver from OHE.
- Residency: Must be a Connecticut resident for at least five years.
- Income Limits: Connecticut adjusted gross income must not exceed $125,000 for single applicants (filing as unmarried) or $175,000 for married applicants (filing as head of household, jointly, or as a surviving spouse).
- Loan Payments: Must have an outstanding student loan balance and have made payments in 2024 toward federal direct loans, federal direct PLUS loans, federal Perkins loans, CHESLA loans, other state-sponsored student loans, or private student loans.
- Community Service: Must have completed at least 50 hours of volunteer work at a Connecticut nonprofit registered with the Department of Consumer Protection, municipal government, served on a nonprofit’s Board of Directors, or have military service after January 1, 2024.
For questions, contact OHE.SLRP@CT.GOV. Applications opened on January 1, 2025. To learn more or apply, visit OHE’s website.
Click here for a CT Mirror FAQ on the Student Loan Reimbursement Program. To register for this conversation, please click here.
