State Grants & ProgramsFormula-based

MASSGrant

Offered by Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance · Free to apply

Award

Need-based award; varies with student aid index and institution type

renewable in later years

Deadline

June 30, 2027

deadlines recur around June each year

Estimated odds

Formula-based

allocated by formula

Application effort

~1 hr

paperwork, not a competition

Massachusetts' core need-based state grant, funded by the state Legislature and paid to undergraduates who live in the Commonwealth. It reaches further than most state grants in two ways: eligible institutions include public, private, independent, for-profit and non-profit schools authorized to award undergraduate degrees, certificates or diplomas, and reciprocity agreements extend it to certain institutions in Vermont, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Award size is not fixed. It varies with the student aid index and the type of institution attended, so two students at different schools with the same finances can receive very different amounts. The requirements are strict on enrollment: full time, at least 12 credits, no prior bachelor's degree, and satisfactory academic progress.

How hard is the MASSGrant to win?

This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome.

Estimated odds: most eligible students who file early receive it
Paperwork: ~1 hr to file

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

Fewer rivalsOpen only to Massachusetts residents

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the MASSGrant?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Must be a resident of Massachusetts
Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners
Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)

Confirm these before applying

Must physically reside in Massachusetts for at least one year as of the start of the enrolled academic year, with intent to remain
Must complete the FAFSA annually, or the alternative application designated by the Department of Higher Education
Must enroll full time, at least 12 credits or the equivalent, in a certificate, associate’s or bachelor’s degree program
Must not have received a prior bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
Must demonstrate financial need for tuition and fees after accounting for the student aid index and all scholarship and grant aid

Good to know

Must not be in default on any federal or state student loan, or owe a refund on previous financial aid
Reciprocity agreements extend eligibility to certain institutions in Vermont, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is June 30, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around June 30 each year. Applications open October 1, when the FAFSA opens. The state sets its own MASSGrant filing deadline each year and it lands well before the June 30 federal date, so file the FAFSA when it opens October 1 and confirm the state date with your college.

FAFSA opens for the next school year: October 1, 2026
Federal FAFSA filing deadline (outer limit): June 30, 2027

Apply on the official site →Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee.

Does your student actually qualify?

See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.

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Common questions about the MASSGrant

How much is the MASSGrant worth?

The MASSGrant awards need-based award; varies with student aid index and institution type and is renewable in later years.

When is the MASSGrant deadline?

When do MASSGrant applications open?

Applications open October 1, when the FAFSA opens, and close June 30, 2027. The state sets its own MASSGrant filing deadline each year and it lands well before the June 30 federal date, so file the FAFSA when it opens October 1 and confirm the state date with your college.

Who is eligible for the MASSGrant?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Massachusetts; Open to high school seniors, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners; Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card).

Does the MASSGrant require an essay?

No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 1 hour on it.

How hard is it to win the MASSGrant?

This is not a competition, but the funding is rationed: eligible students are routinely turned away once the money runs out, so filing date decides the outcome. Solyo classifies this award as formula-based, meaning most eligible students who file early receive it. Plan on about 1 hr of paperwork.

Is the MASSGrant free to apply?

Yes. The MASSGrant is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

More state grants & programs

Lists this award appears on

Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.