Higher Education Funding Opportunities
Are you interested in exploring higher education? If so, there are many programs in the City of Boston to make that dream possible, whether it's community college, a four-year university, or continuing education.
I am interested in...
I am interested in...Community College in Boston
The Tuition-Free Community College (TFCC) Plan pays for up to three years of tuition and fees for all Boston residents pursuing an associate degree or certificate program at a partner college.
Community College to four-year school
The City can help make community college affordable, but the savings don't have to stop there! Through Boston Bridge, you can attend community college and then transfer to a four-year college at no cost.
The Tuition Free Community College Plan has launched a pilot program called MassTransfer in partnership with the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) to support students transferring from a Massachusetts community college to a bachelor’s degree program at MassArt.
Four-year college, Continuing Ed
The City of Boston Scholarship Fund supports college students and continuing education students who plan to attend a post-secondary school in Massachusetts.
The GRAD (Graduate Ready to Achieve Degree) Fund is an innovative grant program designed to provide financial support to students nearing college graduation.
Scholarship Resources and Tips
Check out some additional resources from our partners!
When opening the links from uAspire, please make a copy of each scholarship spreadsheet. You can filter the columns on the right to find scholarships that are a good fit for you.
Updated December 2022
Updated December 2022
Updated December 2022
uAspire’s College Cost Calculator is a free online tool that helps you decipher and compare your financial aid offers.
Thinking of going back to college? Check out some tips from Alray Scholars.
Scholarships from Boston-area Schools
To share updated information about a scholarship from a Boston-area school for Boston residents, email COBscholarship@boston.gov. You can also download the list of scholarships below. (Last updated: October 2021)
School | Name and related link | Amount per year | Due date | Brief description | Application? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
School | Berklee College of Music | ||||
Name and related link | City Music College Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Partial or full tuition | ||||
Due date | Early February | ||||
Brief description | Boston Area High-school graduate and attend Five-Week Summer Performance Program via the City Music Summer Scholarship. | ||||
Application? | Yes | ||||
School | Boston Architectural School | ||||
Name and related link | PILOT Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition and fees | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with admission | ||||
Brief description | Boston Public School graduate and City resident attending the Bachelor of Interior Architecture, Design Studies, or Landscape Architecture program. | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | Boston College | ||||
Name and related link | Allston Brighton Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with admission | ||||
Brief description | Resident of Allston/Brighton for 4 or more years and have an institutionally determined need greater than $10,000 to be considered. Any remaining scholarships are given to Boston residents. | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | Boston College | ||||
Name and related link | MLK Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | $3,000-$19,000 | ||||
Due date | |||||
Brief description | BC junior who active in community service to the African American and wider communities on and/or off campus and involved with the African American community | ||||
Application? | Yes | ||||
School | Boston University | ||||
Name and related link | BU Community Service Award | ||||
Amount per year | Full calculated financial eligibility without any loans | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with admission | ||||
Brief description | Boston Public School graduate (incoming and transfer students) | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | Boston University | ||||
Name and related link | Thomas M. Menino Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition | ||||
Due date | Early December | ||||
Brief description | Students must be nominated by their high school principals or guidance counselors. Nominated students will submit an additional essay. | ||||
Application? | Nomination | ||||
School | Emmanuel College | ||||
Name and related link | Mission Hill Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with admission | ||||
Brief description | Resident of Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | Emmanuel College | ||||
Name and related link | City of Boston Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Unknown | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with admission | ||||
Brief description | Merit-based scholarship for City of Boston residents. | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | Northeastern University | ||||
Name and related link | Boston Public High School Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition, room and board | ||||
Due date | To be decided, early January | ||||
Brief description | Students attending Boston Public High School and who are in the top 10 percent of their high school class. Students must be nominated by their high school guidance office or headmaster. | ||||
Application? | Nomination | ||||
School | Northeastern University | ||||
Name and related link | Northeastern Boston Valedictorian Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition, room and board | ||||
Due date | To be decided, early January | ||||
Brief description | Senior Class Valedictorians, with preference given to students from the designated 35 Traditional District and Exam Boston Public High Schools. Students must be nominated by their high school guidance office or headmaster. | ||||
Application? | Nomination | ||||
School | Northeastern University | ||||
Name and related link | Boston Housing Authority Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition | ||||
Due date | To be decided, mid-February | ||||
Brief description | Residents of Boston Housing Authority (BHA) Public Housing must submit a letter verifying their residence within one month of submitting their admission application. There is an interview process that informs candidates’ admission and scholarship decision. Section 8 and BHA subsidized housing residents are not eligible for this scholarship. For more information, contact the BHA Community Services Department. | ||||
Application? | Residency verification and interview | ||||
School | Northeastern University | ||||
Name and related link | Northeastern Neighborhood Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with admission | ||||
Brief description | Boston Public High School graduates from 02115, 02118, 02119, 02120, and 02130 zip-code communities who are admitted to Northeastern. | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | Northeastern University | ||||
Name and related link | Balfour Academy Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition, room and board | ||||
Due date | To be decided, early March | ||||
Brief description | Balfour Academy graduates. Enroll in the Balfour Academy program by the seventh grade and study at Northeastern every summer until their senior year. | ||||
Application? | Nomination | ||||
School | blank | ||||
Name and related link | blank | ||||
Amount per year | blank | ||||
Due date | blank | ||||
Brief description | blank | ||||
Application? | blank | ||||
School | Simmons College | ||||
Name and related link | Simmons Boston Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition | ||||
Due date |
| ||||
Brief description | Graduate of Boston public or charter high school. 3.0 GPA. 1080 on SAT or 21 on ACT. | ||||
Application? | Nomination and interview | ||||
School | Suffolk University | ||||
Name and related link | Nathan Miller Scholarship Program | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition | ||||
Due date | Unknown | ||||
Brief description | Deserving students from the Boston Public Schools. | ||||
Application? | Unknown | ||||
School | Suffolk University | ||||
Name and related link | East Boston Stadium Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition | ||||
Due date | Unknown | ||||
Brief description | East Boston residents. | ||||
Application? | Unknown | ||||
School | Suffolk University | ||||
Name and related link | Boys and Girls Club of Boston Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Unknown | ||||
Due date | Unknown | ||||
Brief description | The recipient must be a registered member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, demonstrate financial need, and enroll as a full-time undergraduate. | ||||
Application? | Unknown | ||||
School | UMass Boston | ||||
Name and related link | Boston City Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | $1,000 | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with admission | ||||
Brief description | Graduates of a Boston public high school. High school GPA 3.0. | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | UMass Boston | ||||
Name and related link | William M. Bulger Award and Scholarship Program | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition and fees | ||||
Due date | To be determined, early April | ||||
Brief description | Outstanding high school graduate from public or private school in Boston. Nominated by headmaster/principal. | ||||
Application? | Nomination and essay | ||||
School | UMass Boston | ||||
Name and related link | Mark Atkins Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | $5,000 | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with early action admission | ||||
Brief description | Lived in Boston for 10+ years, has financial need, strong academic potential, and entrepreneurial spirit. | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | UMass Boston | ||||
Name and related link | The Samuel Brehm Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | $5,000 | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with early action admission | ||||
Brief description | Graduate of Boston public school system, has financial need, strong academic potential, and entrepreneurial spirit. Must attend UMass Boston full-time. | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | UMass Boston | ||||
Name and related link | The Stephen J. Sweeney Scholarship Program | ||||
Amount per year | $2,700 | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with early action admission | ||||
Brief description | Graduate of Boston public school system, has financial need, and has participated in school activities or community service. | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | UMass Boston | ||||
Name and related link | The Bernard R. Sneed Scholarship Program | ||||
Amount per year | $500 | ||||
Due date | Automatically considered with early action admission | ||||
Brief description | Resident of Harbor Point community and surrounding neighborhood. Member of an ethnic group historically underrepresented in higher education | ||||
Application? | No | ||||
School | UMass System | ||||
Name and related link | Vertex Science Leaders Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition, fees, and books | ||||
Due date | Contact your high school for an application | ||||
Brief description | Graduate of Boston Green Academy or Excel High School. Has a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.25. Interested in pursuing STEM studies and careers. | ||||
Application? | Yes | ||||
School | Wentworth Institute of Technology | ||||
Name and related link | Boston Resident Scholarship | ||||
Amount per year | Full tuition after federal, state, and Wentworth funding is awarded | ||||
Due date | Mid-March | ||||
Brief description | Boston residents and have been accepted to Wentworth. Scholarship selection is based on academics, leadership, school and community involvement, as well as financial need. Must apply for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA form to be eligible. | ||||
Application? | Yes |