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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Still have questions? Contact:
Mayor's Office
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1 City Hall Square, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02201-2013
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 & 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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berklee College of Music | City Music College Scholarship | Partial or full tuition | Early February | Boston Area High-school graduate and attend Five-Week Summer Performance Program via the City Music Summer Scholarship. | Yes |
| Boston Architectural School | PILOT Scholarship | Full tuition and fees | Automatically considered with admission | Boston Public School graduate and City resident attending the Bachelor of Interior Architecture, Design Studies, or Landscape Architecture program. | No |
| Boston College | Allston Brighton Scholarship | Full tuition | Automatically considered with admission | 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. | No |
| Boston College | MLK Scholarship | $3,000-$19,000 | 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 | Yes | |
| Boston University | BU Community Service Award | Full calculated financial eligibility without any loans | Automatically considered with admission | Boston Public School graduate (incoming and transfer students) | No |
| Boston University | Thomas M. Menino Scholarship | Full tuition | Early December | Students must be nominated by their high school principals or guidance counselors. Nominated students will submit an additional essay. | Nomination |
| Emmanuel College | Mission Hill Scholarship | Full tuition | Automatically considered with admission | Resident of Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood | No |
| Emmanuel College | City of Boston Scholarship | Unknown | Automatically considered with admission | Merit-based scholarship for City of Boston residents. | No |
| Northeastern University | Boston Public High School Scholarship | Full tuition, room and board | To be decided, early January | 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. | Nomination |
| Northeastern University | Northeastern Boston Valedictorian Scholarship | Full tuition, room and board | To be decided, early January | 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. | Nomination |
| Northeastern University | Boston Housing Authority Scholarship | Full tuition | To be decided, mid-February | 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. | Residency verification and interview |
| Northeastern University | Northeastern Neighborhood Scholarship | Full tuition | Automatically considered with admission | Boston Public High School graduates from 02115, 02118, 02119, 02120, and 02130 zip-code communities who are admitted to Northeastern. | No |
| Northeastern University | Balfour Academy Scholarship | Full tuition, room and board | To be decided, early March | Balfour Academy graduates. Enroll in the Balfour Academy program by the seventh grade and study at Northeastern every summer until their senior year. | Nomination |
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| Simmons College | Simmons Boston Scholarship | Full tuition |
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Graduate of Boston public or charter high school. 3.0 GPA. 1080 on SAT or 21 on ACT. | Nomination and interview |
| Suffolk University | Nathan Miller Scholarship Program | Full tuition | Unknown | Deserving students from the Boston Public Schools. | Unknown |
| Suffolk University | East Boston Stadium Scholarship | Full tuition | Unknown | East Boston residents. | Unknown |
| Suffolk University | Boys and Girls Club of Boston Scholarship | Unknown | Unknown | 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. | Unknown |
| UMass Boston | Boston City Scholarship | $1,000 | Automatically considered with admission | Graduates of a Boston public high school. High school GPA 3.0. | No |
| UMass Boston | William M. Bulger Award and Scholarship Program | Full tuition and fees | To be determined, early April | Outstanding high school graduate from public or private school in Boston. Nominated by headmaster/principal. | Nomination and essay |
| UMass Boston | Mark Atkins Scholarship | $5,000 | Automatically considered with early action admission | Lived in Boston for 10+ years, has financial need, strong academic potential, and entrepreneurial spirit. | No |
| UMass Boston | The Samuel Brehm Scholarship | $5,000 | Automatically considered with early action admission | Graduate of Boston public school system, has financial need, strong academic potential, and entrepreneurial spirit. Must attend UMass Boston full-time. | No |
| UMass Boston | The Stephen J. Sweeney Scholarship Program | $2,700 | Automatically considered with early action admission | Graduate of Boston public school system, has financial need, and has participated in school activities or community service. | No |
| UMass Boston | The Bernard R. Sneed Scholarship Program | $500 | Automatically considered with early action admission | Resident of Harbor Point community and surrounding neighborhood. Member of an ethnic group historically underrepresented in higher education | No |
| UMass System | Vertex Science Leaders Scholarship | Full tuition, fees, and books | Contact your high school for an application | 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. | Yes |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | Boston Resident Scholarship | Full tuition after federal, state, and Wentworth funding is awarded | Mid-March | 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. | Yes |
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Still have questions? Contact:
Mayor's Office
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1 City Hall Square, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02201-2013
