Scholarships
Scholarships are similar to grants, in that they are financial aid that you do not have to repay. Scholarships are usually awarded on the basis of academic merit.
When you file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you will be considered for more than 100 endowed and corporate-sponsored scholarships. Your financial need may not be the only consideration for individual scholarships; we may also take into account your grades, class standing, academic major, residency, and other factors. In general, entering students do not need to participate in a separate scholarship application process in order to be considered for UMass Amherst scholarships. When you file your application for admission by the stated application deadline, you are also automatically considered. In many cases, scholarship notification accompanies the acceptance letter.
Financial Aid Services may adjust the award of recipients who receive scholarships, loans, or tuition waivers not listed on their award letters. According to federal regulations, a student’s total financial aid may not exceed what the Financial Aid Services has determined to be his or her estimated need/cost. See Non-University Awards for more information.
Other Scholarship Resources
There are still other scholarships that are independent of the FAFSA form. Financial Aid Services can assist you in finding these sources. You will also find many by searching online.
A note of caution: Be wary of advertisements that offer to help you find scholarships for a fee. With a little time and research, you can find the very same information yourself.
These links will get you started:
University of Massachusetts Scholarship Database: This database allows current and prospective students to search listings of scholarships available at each of the five university campuses.
FastWeb: A free scholarship search on the Internet, matching students with 275,000 different scholarships.
Office of National Scholarship Advisement (ONSA): This on-campus office assists students pursuing national competitive scholarships and fellowships such as Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, Goldwater, Truman, and Mellon scholarships, fellowships, and awards.
Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA): OFSA helps residents of Massachusetts and their families find financial resources to help pay for their education.
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts: Administers scholarships for students who live in Western Massachusetts.
You should also use the W.E.B. Du Bois Library at UMass Amherst in your search, and check with your academic department and your high school guidance counselor.
Scholarships through UMass Amherst
The following are some of the primary scholarships administered by Financial Aid Services, but there are many more besides these.
The University of Massachusetts University Scholars Program
This program is administered by the University of Massachusetts President’s Office. Principals of all accredited high schools in Massachusetts are able to nominate students for the program by the February 15 nomination deadline. First- and second-ranked Massachusetts high school seniors with 1200+ SAT (ACT 27+) scores who attend accredited public or private high schools in Massachusetts, are Massachusetts residents, and meet all eligibility requirements are awarded scholarships of up to $10,000 to attend the University of Massachusetts. Eligibility for the program is determined without regard to financial need. The University of Massachusetts President’s Office will notify the Undergraduate Admissions Office about scholarship recipients shortly after the nomination deadline date.
Scholarships are granted for a maximum of eight semesters to recipients who maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA while taking twelve or more credits each semester. The University Scholars award may be combined with tuition waivers. If the recipient demonstrates enough need, this award may be combined with need-based aid up to the amount of the student’s calculated need.
Admissions and acceptance of the scholarship may be deferred upon agreement between the campus and the student.
For more information about the University Scholars Program, or to download a brochure, visit the University of Massachusetts President’s Office Web site. You may also contact them by phone at 617-287-7000.
The Community College Scholars Program
This program is designed to recognize outstanding academic performance by Massachusetts Community College graduates. Community college presidents nominate candidates by March 15th of each year. Each nominee must be the top academically ranked student of his or her graduating class and must have earned a transfer designated associate's degree with a grade point average of at least 3.75.
The scholar must be a resident of Massachusetts and meet the admissions requirements of the University. Only one nominee from each of the 15 Massachusetts community colleges is eligible to receive the scholarship. Awards are valued up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of four semesters of continuous enrollment provided that the scholar is enrolled full time and maintains an overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater.
For more information about the Community College Scholars Program, or to download a brochure, visit the University of Massachusetts President’s Office Web site. You may also contact them by phone at 617-287-7000.
Academic Honors Scholarship
This $5,000 scholarship is awarded to the first-place winner of the Massachusetts Science Fair. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers.
- Scholarship application: Students must submit documentation of the first place award
- Notification: The Admissions Office will notify the recipient after acceptance and upon submission of documentation
- UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher
Academic Honors Engineering Scholarship
UMass Amherst offers a limited number of $5,000 scholarships to students based on academic achievement, special talents, and financial need. Preference is given to students who are underrepresented in the engineering program and/or to transfer students. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers.
- Scholarship application: None required
- Notification: College of Engineering will notify recipients after acceptance
- UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher
Commonwealth College Scholarships
UMass Amherst offers scholarships to admitted Commonwealth College freshman whose SAT and GPA profile is especially strong. Other factors are also considered. Please note that UMass Amherst does not use the GPA provided by the high school but instead recalculates a GPA for every applicant, using the same weighting for honors, AP, and college coursework. This recalculation is done in accordance with the standards outlined by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers.
- Scholarship application: None required
- Notification: Admissions Office will notify recipients at the time of acceptance
- UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.2 or higher
Community Scholarships
The Community Scholarships are awarded to applicants who are low income and/or who are first generation college students. The scholarship committee takes into consideration a student’s academic record and level of academic challenge; however, the review also includes factors such as school activities, community service, and work experience. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers.
- Scholarship application: None required
- Notification: Admissions Office will notify recipients at the time of acceptance
- UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher
Director's Scholarships
UMass Amherst awards Director’s Scholarships to applicants with strong academic and extracurricular records. Once the scholarship funds are disbursed, no additional scholarships may be awarded. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers.
- Scholarship application: None required
- Notification: Admissions Office will notify recipients at the time of acceptance
Engineers Incentive Scholarships
A limited number of $5,000 scholarships are awarded to high-achieving out-of-state admitted engineering freshman.
- Scholarship application: None required
- Notification: The College of Engineering will notify recipients after acceptance
- UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.0 or higher
Christian A. Herter Scholarship Program
The Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship Program is a sponsored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to recruit 10th and 11th grade students whose socio-economic backgrounds and environmental conditions may inhibit their ability to pursue higher education. Guidance counselors, social workers, ministers, and educators who are familiar with their circumstances nominate students, and selected semi-finalists participate in a rigorous interview process. Each year, 25 students in the 10th and 11th grades are selected to receive awards of up to 50 percent (50%) of their calculated need at the college of their choice within the continental United States. The students that are selected for this program must have overcome major adversity in their lives and must exhibit academic potential for post-secondary success.
For a complete description of the Christian A. Herter Scholarship Program, as well as eligibility requirements, visit the Web site of the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program
The Early Childhood Educators Scholarship Program is intended to increase the quality and availability of teachers and care providers who work with young children in infant/toddler, preschool, and child care programs. The scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance for currently employed early childhood educators and providers who enroll in an associate or bachelor degree program in Early Childhood Education or related programs.
For more on this opportunity, visit the Web site of the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.
National Merit and National Achievement Scholarships
These scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board for in-state students. A limited number of scholarships are offered per entering class, based on a competitive review of the freshman National Merit and National Achievement Scholars who have applied to UMass Amherst. This scholarship may not be combined with tuition waivers, since the scholarship already covers the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board.
- Scholarship application: None required
- Notification: Admissions Office will notify recipients at the time of acceptance
- UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.0 or higher during freshman year, 3.2 in subsequent years.
- Students must carry at least 15 credits per semester and must have continuous enrollment.
The Gates Millennium Scholarship
The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS), funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was established in 1999 to provide outstanding African American, American Indian/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic American students with an opportunity to complete an undergraduate college education. Undergraduates in all discipline areas are eligible. Graduate students must be pursuing studies in mathematics, science, engineering, education, or library science to be eligible. The goal of GMS is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for thousands of outstanding students with significant financial need to reach their fullest potential.
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.
For more information about Air Force ROTC, visit www.umass.edu/afrotc or call 413-545-2437 or 545-2451.
For more information about Army ROTC, visit www.umass.edu/armyrotc or call 413-545-2321.
