Are you pursuing an education certificate or degree? Do you desire to teach students in their early years of education? Do you live in Massachusetts? If you answered “yes” to these questions, then you may be eligible for the Massachusetts Early Childhood Educators (ECE) Scholarship Program. This program is a state-funded financial aid program that offers funding to help individuals planning to or already working in early childhood education. Together the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Department of Higher Education (DHE) offer this scholarship with the goal of increasing the number and quality of early childhood educators in Massachusetts.
How Do I Qualify?
There are a few requirements to be eligible for the scholarship program:
- Physically reside in Massachusetts currently (and have lived in Massachusetts for at least one year)
- Be considered a “High School Completer” per the Massachusetts tuition equity law
- File the FAFSA or equivalent application authorized by the Department of Higher Education
- Enroll in an approved major (e.g. early childhood education, psychology, social work, etc.)
- Either work in early education already or plan to work in the field within one year
- Remain in satisfactory academic standing for the duration of the program
Important to Note! Once you complete your education, you must also work in early childhood education in Massachusetts or pay the scholarship amount you received back to the state. You will be required to sign an agreement to work as an educator or provider in the early childhood education field in Massachusetts for six months per semester of scholarship receipt. For example, if you receive the scholarship for four semesters, then you would be committed to two years of work as defined in the agreement. Learn more about these requirements here.
Qualified work must be completed at an EEC-licensed or funded:
- Family Child Care (FCC)
- Center-based program
- After School/Out-of-School Time (ASOST) program
- Residential Placement program
- Contracted Family Child Care (FCC) System
How Much Is the Scholarship?
The scholarship program is designed to assist students per credit, which may add up to be thousands per semester. You can choose to request funding for 3, 6, or 9 credits (1, 2, or 3 classes) per semester. Here is a breakdown of the credits:
- Up to $750/credit at UMass or private colleges, max of $6,750 per semester
- Up to $550/credit at state universities, max of $4,950 per semester
- Up to $350/credit at community colleges, max of $3,150 per semester
The credits cover up to three classes per semester. Overall, the funding covers the cost of obtaining certificates and associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees in early childhood education or related fields.
How Do I Apply?
To apply, first fill out the FAFSA. Your data will be processed, which may take 48-72 hours, and then you will receive an email inviting you to create a MASSAid account. Through this account, you will access the student portal. Here you may apply for the ECE scholarship. For the application, you will also need a Professional Qualifications Registry (PQR) number.
The application for the 2026-27 academic year opened on April 1, 2026. Funding is not guaranteed (it depends on state budget availability), so be sure to apply early.
You must also apply separately to your college. The Early Childhood Educators (ECE) Scholarship application will not replace your college application.
Learn more about this scholarship opportunity at mass.gov and the Office of Student Financial Assistance. And if you’re looking for more details and step-by-step instructions about the application process, check out a recording of an info session, read the Scholarship Application Walk-Through, or sign up to join an upcoming session.
