Federal and State Scholarships and Grants

The DCF Adopted Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program is designed to lessen the financial burden on adopting parents in the Commonwealth. This waiver extends eligibility to all children and young adults, age twenty-four or under, adopted through DCF by state employees or eligible Massachusetts residents, regardless of the date of adoption. Specific eligibility requirements are: 

• Be twenty-four years of age or under at the start of the academic year
• Be in the custody of the DCF and have been adopted by an eligible Massachusetts state employee or an eligible Massachusetts resident through the DCF.
  • Eligible state employees shall include all full and part-time Massachusetts state government employees employed by the state for at least six months at the time of the adoption. Employees must work for the state at the time of the adoption and continue to be employed by the state for at least six months after the adoption.
  • Eligible Massachusetts residents shall include all individuals determined to be Massachusetts state residents at the time of adoption of the eligible student.

This waiver is based on the day college tuition amount only. Students must be enrolled in day college courses. Evening (Continuing Education) classes will not count towards their enrolled credit hours for purposes of this waiver. This waiver may be prorated or canceled based on the number of day course credit hours you are enrolled. 

Students must obtain eligibility documentation from DCF and present it to Salem State's Financial Aid Office for consideration. For more information regarding eligibility documentation, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education's Office of Student Financial Aid at 617.391.6070. 

The DCF Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program provides financial support for children in state custody who were neither adopted nor returned home. Students enrolled in day college courses may be eligible to receive a full tuition waiver. Specific eligibility requirements are: 

• Be twenty-four years of age or younger at the start of the academic year
• Be a current or former foster child who is placed in the custody of the state through a Care and Protection Petition or
• Be a child whose guardianship was sponsored by DCF through the age of 18
• Were in the custody of DCS for at least twelve months 

This waiver is based on the day college tuition amount only. Students must be enrolled in day college courses. Evening (Continuing Education) classes will not count towards their enrolled credit hours for purposes of this waiver. This waiver may be prorated or canceled based on the number of day course credit hours you are enrolled. 

Students must obtain eligibility documentation from DCF and present it to Salem State's Financial Aid Office for consideration. For more information regarding eligibility documentation, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education's Office of Student Financial Aid at 617.391.6070. 

The Foster Child Grant provides grants of up to $6,000 annually for foster children to help pay for an education beyond high school at any college or university throughout the continental United States. The grant recipient must have signed an agreement with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) for care and services beyond the age of 18. 

Additional specific eligibility requirements include: 

• Be placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Families through a Care and Protection Petition
• Be under the age of twenty-five at the start of the academic year,
• Have signed a voluntary agreement with the Department of Social Services establishing the terms and conditions of receiving such aid

For additional information, please contact the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance at 617.937.6070. 

MASSGrant provides need-based financial assistance to undergraduate students who reside in Massachusetts. Students must enroll full-time and meet the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) requirements to be eligible to receive this grant, which must be between $0.00 and $6,656.00.

 The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) will notify students of their eligibility. Students must return any requested forms to OSFA promptly; failure to do so could jeopardize the receipt of their award. 

Salem State is not responsible for the estimated award for which payment has not been received.

Students must meet the State of Massachusetts' July 1 FAFSA deadline to be considered for this grant.

Please visit mass.edu for MASSGrant Award Terms and Conditions and additional information.

Under the MASSGrant Plus program, full-time students attending Massachusetts four-year public colleges and universities may be eligible for additional funding to help with tuition, fees, and books. 

Please review the requirements for the MASSGrant Plus program below to determine if you qualify: 

• Physically reside in Massachusetts for at least one year, as of the start of the enrolled term, with an intent to remain in Massachusetts consistent with Board of Higher Education (BHE) policy;
• Be a U.S. Citizen, permanent legal resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations; or have an approved eligibility status designated by the Board of Higher Education pursuant to Section 9 of Chapter 15A, as amended by Section 11 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2024.
• Be a student enrolled in a certificate, associate, or bachelor's degree program at a Massachusetts college or university.

Please visit mass.edu for MASSGrant Plus Award Terms and Conditions and additional information.

MassGrant Plus Expansion

On November 15, 2023, Governor Maura Healey announced MASSGrant Plus Expansion, a new financial aid program for students attending Massachusetts' public colleges, universities, and the University of Massachusetts. MASSGrant Plus Expansion increases available funds to current beneficiaries of the MASSGrant Plus program and offers financial aid to students who currently do not qualify for MASSGrant Plus.

The Massachusetts Cash Grant helps needy students by awarding grant money to cover additional charges such as mandatory fees and non-state-supported tuition. Eligibility is determined by students' EFC and the availability of funds. This grant may be prorated or canceled based on the number of credits a student is enrolled in. 

The Massachusetts Part-Time Grant is for degree-seeking (matriculated) students enrolled in at least six credit hours but fewer than twelve (six – 11.5 credits). Eligibility is determined by students' EFC and the availability of funds.

The Massachusetts Public Service Grant was established for students who have experienced the loss of a parent and/or spouse killed or missing in the line of public service duty in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Public Service Grant Program is the only scholarship program not based on demonstrated financial need but instead on entitlement. 

Please contact the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance at 617.727.9420 for more information regarding additional eligibility requirements and deadlines specific to this grant. 

The Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Tuition Credit is a non-need merit-based state-supported waiver awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Education to recognize high academic achievement.

Specific eligibility requirements are: 

• Be a permanent Massachusetts resident
• Be enrolled in a public high school in Massachusetts. Students who have graduated high school are not eligible to apply
• Score "Advanced" on at least one grade 10 MCAS test subject, and score "Proficient" on the remaining sections of the grade 10 MCAS
• Fulfill additional requirements through one of the following combinations covering both arts/humanities and mathematics/science:
  • 2 AP exams with scores of 3 or better;
  • 2 SAT II exams (Minimum score dependent upon the subject area. Scores are listed on the Koplik application);
  • 1 SAT II exam and 1 AP exam; or
  • 1 SAT II exam and one other achievement or
  • 1 AP exam and one other achievement
• Students must be enrolled full-time (12 or more credits)

This waiver is based on the day college tuition amount only. Students must be enrolled in day college courses. Evening (Continuing Education) classes will not count towards enrolled credit hours for purposes of this waiver.

Application forms are available from the Koplik coordinator at the local high school, or contact Alexia Cribbs at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education at 781.338.3581 or via email at Koplik@doe.mass.edu. For more information, students may also contact the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance at 617.391.6070.

TheDream.US National Scholarship program is for highly motivated undocumented students eligible to receive in-state tuition in their home state but still have significant, unmet financial need.

Applications are open to undocumented immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS who came to the U.S. before age 16 and before November 1, 2018. 

To learn more about the TheDream.US National Scholarship program, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit TheDream.US for more information.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THEDREAM.US NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

IMPORTANT: This scholarship may turn into a loan leading to added costs if the service requirements are not met. Please be sure that you fully understand your obligation in meeting these requirements. This program is subject to annual appropriation and is considered a repayment through service scholarship that will revert to a loan, to be repaid if the teaching service obligation is not met - one year of teaching will forgive one year of scholarship. 

This program is subject to annual appropriation and is considered a repayment through service scholarship that will revert to a loan, to be repaid if the teaching service obligation is not met - one year of teaching will forgive one year of scholarship.

Scholarships of up to $25,000 per academic year will be awarded per student, subject to the availability of funds, which may influence the amount awarded. The scholarships may be used to cover educational expenses that make up the Cost of Attendance (COA), including but not limited to tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, childcare, and personal expenses.

Undergraduate students may receive scholarship funds for up to a maximum of 4 years or eight semesters. Students pursuing post-baccalaureate coursework may receive scholarship funds for up to a maximum of three semesters.

Students must have a valid and completed FAFSA on file with Salem State and complete the Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship application in the MASSAid Student Portal system.

The 2023-2024 application will be available beginning June 28, 2023, and must be completed by the October 15, 2023, deadline.

For more information, please visit the Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship Program website.

Applicants must also meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts for at least 12 months (one year) prior to the start of the academic year and remain a permanent resident to maintain eligibility
• Have not earned a prior baccalaureate degree, or the equivalent, except for those pursuing or intending to pursue post-baccalaureate course work in an approved educator preparation program at a Massachusetts four-year public institution of higher education 
• Enroll, as a matriculated student, in an undergraduate or post-baccalaureate degree program, full-time (minimum of twelve credits, or the equivalent), unless otherwise agreed upon, in an approved course of study that meets the licensure requirements for employment at a Massachusetts public elementary or secondary school
• Be a U.S. Citizen or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations 
• Not be in default on any federal or state Student Loans for attendance at any institution or owe a refund for any previous state financial aid program
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Students will need to agree to the following terms and conditions via the online application:

• Acknowledge that this scholarship is considered repayment through service. In the absence of fulfilling that commitment, the scholarship reverts to a loan that must be repaid by the scholarship recipient per the terms of the Scholarship Promissory Note. 
• Acknowledge the set forth repayment through the service schedule, that one year of teaching will forgive one year of scholarship. 
• Complete the scholarship application and sign a promissory note annually to continue scholarship funds. 
• Provide an official transcript after each academic year to confirm continued eligibility requirements for the program of study and progress toward degree completion. Incoming first-year students are required to submit a declaration of their major from the institution’s registrar’s office. 
• Sign a scholarship agreement to “obtain the appropriate certification in accordance with Section 38G of Chapter 71” and “commit to teaching for four years in a school district, as defined in Section 2 of Chapter 70, in the commonwealth.” Failure to complete the required four-year teaching service will result in a repayment of funds as defined in the agreement.  
• Become employed as a teacher of record within twelve months of degree completion or the completion of post-baccalaureate coursework in an approved educator preparation program.
• Annually provide proof of employment to document fulfillment of the service obligation.

The Paraprofessional Teacher, Preparation Grant program, provides non-need-based financial assistance to Massachusetts residents currently employed as paraprofessionals in Massachusetts public schools who wish to become certified as full-time teachers. This grant is designed to reduce their financial burden and help address the Commonwealth's current teacher shortage. Financial need is not a requirement for the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant. However, recipients must complete the FAFSA annually.

Additional specific eligibility requirements are: 

• Enroll in an undergraduate degree program (full-time or part-time) leading to teacher certification in a Massachusetts public college
• Be employed, for a minimum of two years, as a paraprofessional in a Massachusetts public school
• If employed for less than two years as a paraprofessional, a student may qualify for the grant only if the undergraduate course of study will lead to teacher certification in high-need disciplines of Math, Science, Special Education, Foreign Languages, or Bilingual Education.
• Recipients must sign a Terms and Conditions Statement requiring the student to serve as a full-time teacher in a Massachusetts public school. The commitment will range from a minimum of 2 years to a maximum of 4 years. Failure to provide the required service will result in a repayment of funds as defined in the agreement.

To apply, students must create a MASSAid Student Portal account if they do not already have one and complete the Paraprofessional Teachers Preparation Grant application in the MASSAid Student Portal system.