2025-2026 Financial Aid Awards

Please note that financial aid awards are tentative until all eligibility requirements are met, and if selected, verification has been completed. To view the financial aid offer, log into SPIRE using the Net ID provided in your admissions letter. In your account, you can: 

• View your financial aid award
• Review your "To Do" list to check for missing documentation necessary to complete your file
• Report outside scholarships and resources
• Read the Guide to Understanding Financial Aid. This comprehensive document provides important information about your financial aid awards and your rights and responsibilities as a financial aid recipient.
• You will have the ability to reduce or decline Federal Work-Study and Federal Direct Loan awards in your SPIRE account beginning in June.

When reviewing your award summary, you might see one or more of the following "Anticipated" or "Estimated" financial aid items:

Anticipated Need-Based Grants: may include a combination of Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant, Massachusetts state-funded grant programs, UMass Amherst Grant, and/or University Need Based Academic Grant. The anticipated awards will be separated once funding levels are finalized.

Estimated MassGrant Plus/Amherst Advantage: These sister programs are “last dollar” grants designed to ensure that Pell-eligible Massachusetts residents are receiving grant and scholarship funding that covers the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees. When final tuition and fees are posted, this estimated award will be converted to either MassGrant Plus or Amherst Advantage Grant. This award may be adjusted based on changes to funding levels or other eligibility criteria. 

Continuing students will begin to be awarded in June 2025.

If you have questions, please contact our office.

Filing your FAFSA

Complete your FAFSA application today at studentaid.gov. The FAFSA is the only application required at UMass Amherst to be awarded need-based aid. The UMass Amherst school code is 002221. 

You are encouraged to file by the March 1 UMass Amherst FAFSA priority date to receive your financial aid offer early in the cycle. If you are having challenges submitting your FAFSA, please be aware that submitting after March 1 will not affect your funding. State and scholarship agencies have varying deadlines that you are encouraged to meet.

See more about the new FAFSA and how to prepare to complete the application on our FAFSA Changes page.

Financial Aid Notifications

After you complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), review your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) for accuracy and to ensure UMass Amherst is listed to receive the information electronically. You may need to respond to requests for documentation before you can be awarded. You will receive an email when your award is available to view in SPIRE. New students will be notified in early spring, and continuing students in the summer.

The Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA)

The Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) is now available! This form allows students who are not able to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due to their immigrations status a way to apply for need-based Massachusetts and UMass Amherst-specific financial aid. 

If you think you are eligible to complete the MASFA, follow these steps:

• Complete the MASFA application
• If required, complete verification of MASFA data with state Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA)
• Fill out the Tuition Equity Affidavit and submit to the UMass Amherst Bursar’s Office

Go to mass.edu/tuitionequity to access the links for the steps described above, and for additional information.

Connect with Us

Got questions? Need to chat with a financial aid advisor? Here’s when, where and how to reach us.