The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

The main state grant program is MassGrant. The application is your FAFSA and you simply need to be enrolled in a Massachusetts eligible school (or a public school in a state which has a reciprocity agreement with Mass.), be a resident of Massachusetts, and have an EFC between 0 and 5273. Awards vary.

There is also the Cash Grant Program for needy students to supplement public school tuition waivers. Students must meet federal needs analysis and the award combined with waivers and other assistance cannot exceed tuition and fees combined.

For nursing students, there are Gilbert Matching Student Grants. Awards are $200 to $2500 per year.

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education has a grant for part-time students (between 6 and 12 credits): the Massachusetts Part-Time Grant. Awards start at $200; the FAFSA is your application.

The Massachusetts Public Service Grant is for widows and children of public servants (police officers, firefighters, corrections officers, POW's,or veterans) who died while serving. The award is full-time tuition at a public university,or up to $2,500 at a Massachusetts private school.

For current paraprofessionals in Massachusetts public schools who want to become teachers, there is the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant. The award is anywhere from $250 per credit to $625 per credit, depending on which school you go to.

For dislocated or very low income (not to exceed 200% of the federal poverty level) students, the Educational Rewards Grant can award between $200 and $3,000 (30% of which may be used for living expenses).

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education only oversees 2 merit state scholarships:

• John and Abigail Adams Scholarships- for Massachusetts students enrolled full-time in a public college, who scored Advanced and Advanced or Proficient on their 10th gr. MCAS test in Math and English. Students must rank in the top 25% in their school district and maintain a 3.0 in college. The award is a tuition waiver.
• Paul Tsongas Scholarships- for Massachusetts students who finish high school within 3 years with a 3.75 GPA and very competitive SAT scores. Students must maintain a 3.3 GPA. Award is a tuition waiver at a state college.

There are also scholarships and tuition waiver programs with no financial need component, but which have strings attached (or they will need to be paid back). These have a service component:

• Math and Science Teachers Scholarship
• Early Childhood Educators Scholarship

In addition to the federal student loans, Massachusetts has some state loan programs. Students need to fill out the FAFSA in order to take advantage of the Massachusetts loan programs.Check your Massachusetts FAFSA deadline and apply early enough to be eligible for all state loans, grants and scholarships.

For instance, Massachusetts does have a separate state college loan program that is completely need-based:

The Massachusetts No Interest Loan (NIL) Program is state-funded, through the repayments of prior borrowers.

• must be a Massachusetts resident, enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program in the state and demonstrate financial need
• 0% interest and a repayment period of 10 years
• grace period of 6 months after enrolled less than half-time
• $1,000- $4,000 per year with a maximum total of $20,000

For the 2012-2013 school year, MEFA is offering fixed-rate undergraduate loans with three repayment options:

1. Immediate repayment at a rate of (for a ten year term) 6.89% while in school- out-of-school rate is 7.89%; or (for a 15 year term) 7.29% while in school- out-of-school rate is 8.29%
2. Interest-only repayment while in school at 7.59%- out-of-school rate is 8.39% (15 year term only)
3. Deferred payment rate is fixed at 8.09%

You can compare these rates to credit unions offering college loans, to see which type of private loan lender you prefer.

Massachusetts has two award/scholarship programs that turn into loans (and must be repaid with interest) if students fail to meet their conditions.

1. *NO LONGER FUNDED* The Tomorrow's Teachers Scholarship Program
• for state residents who graduate in the top 25% of their class and agree to teach for 4 years in Massachusetts schools
• award is equal to the full tuition and fees of a public college
• degree must be completed in 6 years and the obligation to teach must be met to avoid forfeiture and repayment
2. The Incentive Program for Aspiring Teachers Tuition Waiver
• for state residents in their third or fourth year of a teacher education program, maintaining a 3.0 gpa and agreeing to teach in Massachusetts for 2 years
• award is equal to a tuition waiver at the state college or university in which they are enrolled
• degree must be completed within 4 years of entering the program and teaching must occur within 4 years of graduation to avoid forfeiture and repayment

Find other Massachusetts college grants and scholarships you may qualify for.


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