How to Apply for TRIO Services

The Office of Financial Aid at Westfield State verifies a student’s financial need in accordance with federal guidelines.

A first-generation college student has no parent nor legal guardian with a four-year college bachelor’s degree. If you have questions, TRIO can help you figure out your status.

Students with documented disabilities are eligible for TRIO services. The documentation needed for students with disabilities is in line with what the university’s office of Disability Services requires. Students who are registered with and have provided updated information to Disability Services do not need to provide it again to TRIO. Students who have disability documentation but do not wish to register with Disability Services must provide their documentation directly to TRIO in order to assess eligibility for TRIO program services.

Disability Services is the office at Westfield State that provides students with accommodations. The TRIO Program does not manage student accommodations. We encourage students to contact Disability Services to discuss registering with them and to review the process to receive accommodations. To learn more about registering with Disability Services and requesting accommodations, please contact ds@westfield.ma.edu.

TRIO is funded to serve 160 students with academic need.

Program students must be a citizen or national of the United States (or meet the residency requirements for federal financial assistance), be enrolled at the University, or be accepted for enrollment to the University.

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education, two-thirds of program participants must be first-generation college students from low-income families, or students with disabilities. In addition, one-third of the participants with disabilities must also be low-income.