Mary Ann Handley Award (CT State tuition-free program, formerly PACT)
Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education / CT State Community College
Free tuition and mandatory fees at CT State Community College for Connecticut residents of any income who file the FAFSA and take at least 6 credits.
- How much
- Covers remaining tuition and mandatory fees after grants; minimum $500 a semester full-time, $300 part-time
- Who qualifies
- Connecticut resident (in-state per CGS 10a-29); high school graduate, GED/equivalency, or home-schooled; first enrolled in college in Fall 2020 or later (college credits earned while in high school don't count); enrolled at least part-time (6+ credits) in a degree or certificate program at CT State Community College; FAFSA completed and all grants accepted; satisfactory academic progress. No income limit. Transition-program students without a diploma can also qualify.
- For students starting college, undergrads, adults going back to school
- When to apply
- Apply any time Each semester (fall and spring); July 15 priority date for fall; all requirements due by the term's census date. First-come, first-served while funds last.
- How to apply
- Apply to CT State Community College, file the FAFSA (with an official Student Aid Index), accept all grants offered, finish all financial aid requirements, and register for 6+ credits in your declared program
- Apply by July 15 for priority consideration for fall
- Everything must be done by each term's census date
- What you'll need
- FAFSA only
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (portal.ct.gov), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
Connecticut's debt-free community college program (CGS 10a-174; formerly the Pledge to Advance Connecticut, PACT), state-funded and awarded as the Mary Ann Handley Award since Fall 2024. It is a last-dollar award: it covers whatever tuition and mandatory fees remain after federal, state and institutional grants (loans and work-study are not counted). By statute and CT State's operational manual, students who already have enough grant aid still get a minimum award of $500 a semester full-time or $300 part-time. Covers fall and winter/spring only (not summer), for the first 72 earned credits, in a Title IV-eligible degree or certificate program at CT State Community College. Open to all income levels. Funding is limited and first-come, first-served.
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 Undergraduate Scholarship$3,000 full-time; $1,500 at least half-time
- CHESLA Certificate Scholarship$1,250
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.