Scholarships
There is a huge array of scholarships available to students. They may be available from UMass Amherst itself, your academic department, your state, your town, organizations that you volunteer with, and many other sources. You just have to seek them out.
All undergraduate students who have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form will be considered for numerous endowed and corporate-sponsored scholarships. Financial need may not be the only consideration for individual scholarships—grades, class standing, academic major, residency and other factors may also be taken into account.
There are still other scholarships that are independent of the FAFSA form, and UMass Amherst can give you a hand in finding these.
The best place to start is the Financial Aid Offices list of Scholarship links. From there, you can check out the scholarship information database available from the UMass President's Office, which lists scholarships available at all of the UMass campuses. You’ll find over 200 just for UMass Amherst undergraduates that are both merit and need based. With some of these you are automatically considered when you file the FAFSA form, with others you need to apply to be considered. Make sure you follow all of their directions and guidelines carefully.
There is information on national scholarships through the Office of National Scholarship Advisement. They will assist eligible students in their pursuit of distinguished national competitive scholarships and fellowships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, Goldwater, Truman, and Mellon awards.
Other sites to peruse are Office of Research Affairs, the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance, and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. You should also use the W.E.B Dubois Library at UMass Amherst as a resource in your search.
More? Check with your department, as many offer scholarships to their students. The Alumni Association also offers several scholarships. Finally, check with your high school guidance counselor for scholarships particular to your hometown, region, or state.
UMass Amherst Scholarships and Other Massachusetts Scholarships for Entering Students
UMass Amherst also awards a variety of scholarships for entering students. Some scholarships are based solely on academic record, while others are based on both academic performance and personal characteristics. There are also scholarships available that are need-based and others that are merit-based. For more details and a list of UMass Amherst scholarships and other Massachusetts Scholarship Programs, go to Scholarships for Entering Students.
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarships
The Department of Aerospace Studies (Air Force) and the Department of Military Science (Army) both offer ROTC programs leading upon graduation to commissioned-officer status as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force or the United States Army. Full and partial four-, three-, and two-year scholarships are available for qualified applicants. You’ll find more details in the Scholarships section of the Financial Aid web site.
One last helpful hint: You can always do a search on the UMass Amherst home page for “scholarships,” which will link you to many scholarships available at UMass Amherst through various resources.
Good luck!
