CHESLA Undergraduate Scholarship
Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA)
Opens later
$3,000 full-time or $1,500 half-time for Pell-eligible Connecticut undergraduates with a 2.5+ GPA at a Connecticut public or nonprofit college.
- How much
- $3,000 full-time; $1,500 at least half-time
- Who qualifies
- Connecticut resident; undergraduate enrolled at least half-time at an eligible Connecticut public or nonprofit degree-granting college; Pell Grant eligible on the latest FAFSA; good academic standing and SAP; not in default on a CHESLA loan.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- Need-based: your FAFSA decides how much you get.
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual; opens March 1, first-come, first-served until funds run out; awards in July.
- How to apply
- Create an account and apply on the CHESLA scholarship portal (opens March 1, 2027 for 2027-28), naming one reference for a recommendation letter
- File the FAFSA so Pell eligibility can be confirmed
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA + recommendation + transcript
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (chesla.org) and page 2
The details
CHESLA's need- and merit-based scholarship. Recipients enrolled full-time get $3,000; at least half-time get $1,500. Awarded first-come, first-served until funds run out; recipients are notified in July and funds go to the school in September. Requires one letter of recommendation (academic, professional or extracurricular). The 2026 round is closed; the 2027-28 application opens March 1, 2027.
More money from Connecticut
- Roberta B. Willis Scholarship – Need and Merit-Based ScholarshipUp to $5,250 a year for a four-year program; up to $4,650 a year for a two-year program
- Roberta B. Willis Scholarship – Need-Based GrantUp to $4,500 for full-time study (part-time prorated)
- CHESLA Opportunity Scholarship$3,000 full-time; $1,500 at least half-time
- CHESLA Certificate Scholarship$1,250
- Connecticut Tuition Waiver for Residents 62 and OlderFull tuition (space-available unless in a degree program at UConn/CSU)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.