What scholarships are available for college in Massachusetts?

I’m considering colleges in Massachusetts and wondering about scholarship options to help cover the costs. Are there any state-specific programs or institutions known for offering substantial financial aid or scholarships?

Absolutely, many colleges in Massachusetts offer a variety of scholarships, and the state itself has financial aid programs to benefit prospective students.

One state-specific program is the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. This program provides a tuition waiver for up to eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state university. There are several eligibility criteria, including being a resident of Massachusetts for at least one year before entering college, scoring at the Proficient or Advanced level on the Mathematics and English Language Arts MCAS exams, and achieving a GPA within the top 25% of their district.

Another program is the Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to Massachusetts students exhibiting challenging social, physical or economic dilemmas.

Regarding financial aid from institutions, Williams College, for example, has a strong commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. Williams doesn't provide merit scholarships but their need-based aid is quite generous.

Harvard has something similar, where students from families earning less than $85,000 per year will pay nothing towards the cost of attendance. For families earning between $85,000 and $150,000 per year, they will pay between 0 and 10% of their annual income.

Boston University offers the Trustee Scholarship Program, a merit-based award that covers full tuition for four years of undergraduate study.

These are just a few examples. Make sure to check the financial aid webpage of each college you're interested in to understand all the financial aid options they offer. Remember that applying for scholarships and meeting financial aid deadlines is crucial!