Massachusetts offers many financial aid opportunities for students, including scholarships. One of these, the Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program, was created specifically to support economic growth and development in the state. Get the details below.
What is the Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program?
The Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program aims to encourage degree completion in high-demand fields to address the state’s workforce needs. The current scholarship is open to students who are pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), Health Professions, Education, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Economics, or Business degree. Eligible programs are designated by Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. A list of eligible CIP codes can be found linked on the scholarship’s webpage here.
The student must be attending a Massachusetts institution, either public or independent.
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible, a student must:
- Physically reside in Massachusetts for at least one year, as of the start of the enrolled term, with an intent to remain in Massachusetts
- Have approved eligibility status as a “High School Completer,” per the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law, or be a U.S. Citizen, permanent legal resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations
- Have completed the FAFSA or a FAFSA equivalent
- Be enrolled in an eligible program of study in a designated high-need field at a public or independent Massachusetts institution
- Not have received a prior bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
- Demonstrate achieving and maintaining a minimum college-level GPA of 3.0 on coursework completed after high school graduation
- New, first-year students starting college in Fall 2025 may apply for this scholarship, but they must maintain a 3.0 GPA once enrolled to retain scholarship eligibility
How Much is the Scholarship?
The final amounts are determined by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) based on the applicant pool and the annual budget. Below are the maximum award values:
For full-time students (12+ credits)
Up to $10,000 per year at independent institutions, University of Massachusetts locations, or state universities. Up to $5,000 per year at community colleges.
For part-time students (6-11 credits)
Up to $5,000 per year at independent institutions, University of Massachusetts locations, or state universities. Up to $2,500 per year at community colleges.
How Do I Apply?
To apply, create an account on the MASSAid Student Portal and complete the High Demand Scholarship application located under the Grant/Scholarship Online Applications tab. You’ll need to upload an unofficial copy of your transcripts that lists your major and GPA. If you are a first-year college student, you can upload documentation of your enrolled major and registered first-semester coursework in lieu of a transcript.
All applicants will also need to file the FAFSA to be eligible.
Where Can I Find More Information?
The Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship is administered by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA), a division of the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. You can learn more about the scholarship on OSFA’s website.
