UMass Admissions Scholarships and Awards
About Admissions Scholarships
The following are the primary awards administered by Financial Aid Services. This is not a comprehensive list, there are others available.
Merit aid is awarded on the basis of academic achievement rather than financial need. Students need to maintain full-time undergraduate enrollment and satisfactory academic progress as defined in the Academic Regulations, published by the University Registrar.
UMass Amherst Chancellor's, Director's and Dean's Scholarships and Awards
UMass Amherst Undergraduate Admissions offers awards to admitted first-year students whose academic and personal achievements are 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. These scholarships and awards may be combined with a tuition credit. See our FAQ page for additional information.
- Award application: None required
- Notification: Admissions Office will notify recipients at the time of acceptance.
- Renewal requirement: Maintain the minimum requirements of satisfactory academic progress (see the Academic Regulations published by the University Registrar)
- Renewable up to an aggregate total of four years (eight consecutive semesters) of full-time undergraduate enrollment at UMass Amherst.
- The award is based on information you provided with your application and the amount of the award is not negotiable.
- Any change to your residency status that results in a reduction to your cost of attendance, including university-initiated changes related to the use of military benefits, veterans' benefits, or Massachusetts state employee benefits, will eliminate your award.
UMass Amherst Flagship Award
The Flagship Award is offered to in-state applicants who are low income and/or who are first generation college attendees. 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 or award may be combined with a tuition credit.
- Award application: First-year entering students, no application required; Transfer students, application required.
- Notification: Admissions Office will notify recipients at the time of acceptance.
- Renewal requirement: Maintain the minimum requirements of satisfactory academic progress (see the Academic Regulations published by the University Registrar).
- Renewable for first-year students up to an aggregate total of four years (eight semesters) of full-time undergraduate enrollment and for transfer students up to an aggregate total of two years (four semesters) of full-time undergraduate enrollment.
- Information about the Flagship Award specific for MassTransfer students can be found on the UMass MassTransfer website.
Honors-to-Honors Scholarship
The Honors-to-Honors Scholarship is for Massachusetts community college honors students entering the UMass Amherst Commonwealth Honors College. Students must be in an approved MassTransfer program and are encouraged to complete their community college honors program. Students who do not complete their honors program and who have a 3.5 GPA for each semester completed (two or more semesters), who are in approved MassTransfer programs, and who meet all other UMass Amherst transfer admissions criteria will also be considered. To receive the award students must accept the invitation to be in Commonwealth Honors College. This scholarship may be combined with a tuition credit.
The award is for residents of Massachusetts who are low-income or first-generation students. The award amount is $6,000 per year for two consecutive years (or four semesters). Recipients will be selected by a scholarship committee made up of faculty and staff from Academic Affairs and Commonwealth Honors College. 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, field of study, and work experience.
- Award application: MassTransfer students may apply for it as part of the MassTransfer Application.
- Notification: Admissions Office will notify recipients at the time of acceptance.
- Renewal requirement: Maintain the minimum requirements of satisfactory academic progress (see the Academic Regulations published by the University Registrar)
- Renewable up to an aggregate total of two years (four semesters) of full-time undergraduate enrollment.
Academic Honors Scholarship
A $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually at the Massachusetts Science Fair to a top-scoring winner. This scholarship may be combined with a tuition credit.
- Award application: Documentation of the first place award must be submitted and verified with Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair (MSEF).
- Notification: The Admissions Office will notify the recipient after acceptance and upon submission of documentation.
- Renewal requirement: Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and maintain the minimum requirements of satisfactory academic progress (see the Academic Regulations published by the University Registrar).
- Renewable up to an aggregate total of four years (eight semesters) of full-time undergraduate enrollment.
- Appeals are directed through the Associate Director of Financial Aid for Awarding.
Community College Academic Honors Scholarship
This scholarship is offered to in-state residents graduating from a Massachusetts community college with strong academic records. The award is based on both GPA and overall academic rigor. For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions website.
- Award application: MassTransfer students may apply for it as part of the MassTransfer Application.
- Notification: The Admissions Office will notify recipients at the time of acceptance.
- Renewal requirement: Maintain the minimum requirements of satisfactory academic progress (see the Academic Regulations published by the University Registrar).
- Renewable up to an aggregate total of two years (four semesters) of full-time undergraduate enrollment.