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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.

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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.

boston bridge 

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.

MASStransfer 

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.  

City Scholarship Fund

The GRAD (Graduate Ready to Achieve Degree) Fund is an innovative grant program designed to provide financial support to students nearing college graduation.

GRAD (Graduate ready to achieve degree) Fund

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?
SchoolBerklee College of Music
Name and related linkCity Music College Scholarship
Amount per yearPartial or full tuition
Due dateEarly February
Brief descriptionBoston Area High-school graduate and attend Five-Week Summer Performance Program via the City Music Summer Scholarship.
Application?Yes
SchoolBoston Architectural School
Name and related linkPILOT Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition and fees
Due dateAutomatically considered with admission
Brief descriptionBoston Public School graduate and City resident attending the Bachelor of Interior Architecture, Design Studies, or Landscape Architecture program.
Application?No
SchoolBoston College
Name and related linkAllston Brighton Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition
Due dateAutomatically considered with admission
Brief descriptionResident 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
SchoolBoston College
Name and related linkMLK Scholarship
Amount per year$3,000-$19,000
Due date 
Brief descriptionBC 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
SchoolBoston University
Name and related linkBU Community Service Award
Amount per yearFull calculated financial eligibility without any loans
Due dateAutomatically considered with admission
Brief descriptionBoston Public School graduate (incoming and transfer students)
Application?No
SchoolBoston University
Name and related linkThomas M. Menino Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition
Due dateEarly December
Brief descriptionStudents must be nominated by their high school principals or guidance counselors. Nominated students will submit an additional essay. 
Application?Nomination
SchoolEmmanuel College
Name and related linkMission Hill Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition
Due dateAutomatically considered with admission
Brief descriptionResident of Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood
Application?No
SchoolEmmanuel College
Name and related linkCity of Boston Scholarship
Amount per yearUnknown
Due dateAutomatically considered with admission
Brief descriptionMerit-based scholarship for City of Boston residents.
Application?No
SchoolNortheastern University
Name and related linkBoston Public High School Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition, room and board
Due dateTo be decided, early January
Brief descriptionStudents 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
SchoolNortheastern University
Name and related linkNortheastern Boston Valedictorian Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition, room and board
Due dateTo be decided, early January
Brief descriptionSenior 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
SchoolNortheastern University
Name and related linkBoston Housing Authority Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition
Due dateTo be decided, mid-February
Brief descriptionResidents 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
SchoolNortheastern University
Name and related linkNortheastern Neighborhood Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition
Due dateAutomatically considered with admission
Brief descriptionBoston Public High School graduates from 02115, 02118, 02119, 02120, and 02130 zip-code communities who are admitted to Northeastern.
Application?No
SchoolNortheastern University
Name and related linkBalfour Academy Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition, room and board
Due dateTo be decided, early March
Brief descriptionBalfour Academy graduates. Enroll in the Balfour Academy program by the seventh grade and study at Northeastern every summer until their senior year.
Application?Nomination
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Name and related linkblank
Amount per yearblank
Due dateblank
Brief descriptionblank
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SchoolSimmons College
Name and related linkSimmons Boston Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition
Due date

 

Brief descriptionGraduate of Boston public or charter high school. 3.0 GPA. 1080 on SAT or 21 on ACT.
Application?Nomination and interview
SchoolSuffolk University
Name and related linkNathan Miller Scholarship Program
Amount per yearFull tuition
Due dateUnknown
Brief descriptionDeserving students from the Boston Public Schools.
Application?Unknown
SchoolSuffolk University
Name and related linkEast Boston Stadium Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition
Due dateUnknown
Brief descriptionEast Boston residents.
Application?Unknown
SchoolSuffolk University
Name and related linkBoys and Girls Club of Boston Scholarship
Amount per yearUnknown
Due dateUnknown
Brief descriptionThe 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
SchoolUMass Boston
Name and related linkBoston City Scholarship
Amount per year$1,000
Due dateAutomatically considered with admission
Brief descriptionGraduates of a Boston public high school. High school GPA 3.0.
Application?No
SchoolUMass Boston
Name and related linkWilliam M. Bulger Award and Scholarship Program
Amount per yearFull tuition and fees
Due dateTo be determined, early April
Brief descriptionOutstanding high school graduate from public or private school in Boston. Nominated by headmaster/principal.
Application?Nomination and essay
SchoolUMass Boston
Name and related linkMark Atkins Scholarship
Amount per year$5,000
Due dateAutomatically considered with early action admission
Brief descriptionLived in Boston for 10+ years, has financial need, strong academic potential, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Application?No
SchoolUMass Boston
Name and related linkThe Samuel Brehm Scholarship
Amount per year$5,000
Due dateAutomatically considered with early action admission
Brief descriptionGraduate of Boston public school system, has financial need, strong academic potential, and entrepreneurial spirit. Must attend UMass Boston full-time.
Application?No
SchoolUMass Boston
Name and related linkThe Stephen J. Sweeney Scholarship Program
Amount per year$2,700
Due dateAutomatically considered with early action admission
Brief descriptionGraduate of Boston public school system, has financial need, and has participated in school activities or community service.
Application?No
SchoolUMass Boston
Name and related linkThe Bernard R. Sneed Scholarship Program
Amount per year $500
Due dateAutomatically considered with early action admission
Brief descriptionResident of Harbor Point community and surrounding neighborhood. Member of an ethnic group historically underrepresented in higher education
Application?No
SchoolUMass System
Name and related linkVertex Science Leaders Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition, fees, and books
Due dateContact your high school for an application
Brief descriptionGraduate 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
SchoolWentworth Institute of Technology
Name and related linkBoston Resident Scholarship
Amount per yearFull tuition after federal, state, and Wentworth funding is awarded
Due dateMid-March
Brief descriptionBoston 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
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