Presidential and Alumni Scholarships

The UMass Foundation oversees several Presidential and Alumni Scholarships for undergraduate students in the UMass system. These scholarships, made possible by generous alumni and donors, cover the gamut of fields of study. Each UMass campus nominates finalists, and the Foundation and President's Office determine recipients from among those finalists. 

NOTE: Scholarships with an October 1 deadline are awarded in the current academic year; scholarships with a March 1 deadline are awarded in the following academic year. Graduating seniors are therefore not eligible for the March 1-deadlined scholarships.

Contact onsa@honors.umass.edu with any questions.

ALL PRESIDENTIAL AND ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIPS MUST BE APPLIED FOR ONLINE VIA UMass ACADEMIC WORKS
Log into Academic Works using your UMass Amherst Net ID credentials.

University of Massachusetts Presidential and Alumni Scholarships

Charles D. Baker II Scholarship

  • Must have a GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Enrolled as a full-time first-year student, sophomore, or junior in good standing at UMass Amherst
  • Must be a permanent resident of Massachusetts and a U.S. citizen
  • Previous Charles D. Baker II Scholarship awardees may apply again.
  • Annual Deadline: March 1
Grace K. Fey Scholarship
  • Currently enrolled full-time at UMass Amherst
  • Be a permanent resident of Massachusetts
  • Be a current matriculated sophomore
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.5 or above
  • Open to all majors, with preference given to mathematics, sciences, and nursing
  • This scholarship is renewable contingent upon maintaining eligibility requirements
  • Annual Deadline: March 1
Jack M. Wilson Presidential Scholarship
  • Be currently enrolled at UMass Amherst or enrolled for at least 6 credits in an academic program through UMassOnline
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.25 or above, with a minimum of 15 credits earned at UMass Amherst
  • Preference for business, engineering, and physics majors. Preference for students of any major studying abroad.
  • Wilson Scholarship awardees may reapply for a second year only
  • Annual Deadline: October 1
James J. Karam Scholarship
  • Currently enrolled as a full-time first-year student, sophomore, or junior at UMass Amherst; or a high school seniors accepted to UMass Amherst
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above with a minimum of 12 credits earned at the university (if a current UMass student)
  • High school seniors (rising first-year students) must have a high school GPA of 3.25 or above. The scholarship is contingent upon matriculation at UMass Amherst.
  • Demonstrate financial need of at least $4,000 as defined by the university's financial aid office
  • Be a permanent resident of the south coast of Massachusetts, which includes the following towns: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport. Students may also be a resident of the town of Tiverton, Rhode Island.
  • Awardees may reapply for this scholarship via AcademicWorks next year, and must be a matriculated UMass Amherst student for the duration of the scholarship.
  • Annual Deadline: March 1
James P. Pappas Presidential Scholarship (candidates apply by invitation from the Department of Political Science)
  • Majoring in political science
  • Enrolled full time at UMass Amherst
  • Demonstrate academic excellence and financial need (as shown on FAFSA)
  • Candidates must be nominated by UMass Amherst's Department of Political Science; nominations occur in October
  • Previous awardees may request to reapply through UMass Amherst's Department of Political Science.
John F. Smith, Jr. Presidential Medal Scholarship Fund
  • Massachusetts resident
  • Enrolled in the Commonwealth Honors College at UMass Amherst
  • This scholarship is renewable contingent upon maintaining eligibility requirements.
  • Annual Deadline: October 1
Putnam UMass Scholars Program
  • Be currently enrolled full time at UMass Amherst
  • Be a matriculated full-time first-year student, sophomore, or junior
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Previous Putnam UMass Scholars Program awardees may reapply.
  • Annual Deadline: March 1
Rick Pitino Presidential Medal Scholarship
  • Massachusetts resident
  • Enrolled in the Commonwealth Honors College at UMass Amherst
  • Previous Rick Pitino Presidential Medal Scholarship awardees may reapply
  • Annual Deadline: October 1
Robert S. Karam Scholarship (candidates apply by invitation from ONSA)
  • Be a rising first-year student, current sophomore, or current junior at UMass Amherst
  • Be a graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River, Mass.; or be from Lebanon; or be the child or grandchild of someone who is or was a citizen of Lebanon
  • Have a minimum GPA or 2.5 or above
  • Demonstrate personal financial contribution toward educational costs
  • Preference will be given to business and engineering majors.
  • Previous Robert S. Karam Scholarship awardees may reapply.
  • Annual Deadline: March 25
Rosalind A. Matthews Scholarship
  • Be a current matriculated student at UMass Amherst
  • Be enrolled in the Isenberg School of Management
  • Be a resident of Massachusetts
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.25 or above
  • Preference will be given to a high school graduate of the Boston Public School system.
  • Previous Rosalind A. Matthews Scholarship awardees may reapply.
  • Annual Deadline: October 1
UMass Club Academic Excellence Scholarship
  • Currently enrolled full time at UMass Amherst
  • Be a current matriculated junior in good standing
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.25 or above, with a minimum of 30 credits earned at UMass Amherst
  • Previous UMass Club Academic Excellence Scholarship awardees may reapply for a second year only.
  • Annual Deadline: October 1
William M. Bulger Presidential Scholarship
  • Currently a freshman, sophomore, or junior enrolled full time at UMass Amherst
  • Must have an overall GPA of 3.25 or above, with a minimum of 12 credits earned at UMass Amherst
  • Be a permanent resident of Massachusetts
  • The scholarship is awarded for one year and is renewable for up to three years. A GPA of at least 3.25 and full-time enrollment status must be maintained throughout the duration of the scholarship.
  • Annual Deadline: March 1