Grants are an essential component of financial aid for undergraduate students.
Grants are a form of financial assistance that does not require repayment, making them highly valuable. These funds are typically awarded based on financial need and can significantly reduce the cost of tuition, enabling students to focus on their studies without the burden of accumulating debt. By exploring grant opportunities, undergraduate students can access vital financial support and pave the way towards achieving their educational goals.
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grant
- Federally-funded program; amounts change yearly
- Eligibility is based onExpected Family Contribution (EFC)and proven financial need
- Available to undergraduate students pursuing a first bachelor's degree or eligible undergraduate certificate program
- Limited to 12 semesters of full-time enrollment or the equivalent
- Amount will depend on your status as a full-time or part-time student
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federally-funded program
- Eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need with priority consideration given to Pell Grant recipients
Federal TEACH Grant (Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education)
- Federally-funded program
- Provides up to a maximum of $3,772 per year to students who are completing or who plan to complete coursework that is required to begin a career in teaching and agree to serve as a full-time, highly-qualified teacher in a high-need subject area in a designated low-income school for at least 4 years within 8 years of graduating
Qualifications
- You must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- You must be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate student.
- Your curriculum must be in preparation for teaching a high-need subject.
- You must agree to teach at a US Department of Education designated low income school.
- You must maintain a 3.25 grade point average.*
- You must score in the 75th percentile (or better) during your college admissions test.*
* These two qualifications do not apply to former full-time teachers returning for an additional teaching degree, current full-time teachers who are also grad students or retirees coming from a “high-need occupation”. Paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, school counselors, school adjustment counselors, school psychologists, etc. do not meet the full-time teacher requirement to apply for a TEACH Grant.
What are considered “high-need subjects”?
- US Dept. of Education determined teacher shortage area
- Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition
- Foreign Language
- Mathematics
- Science
- Special Education
How to Apply for a TEACH Grant
To apply a TEACH grant, the first step is to file a FAFSA. Students will need to complete the UMass Boston TEACH Grantforms. Look for the appropriate ones labeled TEACH Grant Program for the appropriate academic year. TEACH Grant recipients must complete TEACH Grant entrance counseling and an agreement to serve online atstudentaid.govfor each academic year they have been awarded a TEACH Grant.
Important Warning
If you do not maintain your financial requirements as listed above, and teach for 4 of the first 8 years after you graduate, your grant will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. This means it must be repaid and you’ll be charged interest from the date you were awarded the original TEACH grant.
State Grants:
Mass Grant
- A state-funded program administered by the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance
- Eligibility is based on theExpected Family Contribution (EFC)derived from the FAFSA
- Available to undergraduate students enrolled full-time who are Massachusetts residents. Parents of dependent students must also be Massachusetts residents
- A MASS Aid Student Portal is available for students to correct or update information for the MASS Grant Program. Read instructions on using the portal.
- Must file FAFSA prior to May 1
- Maximum number of semesters of eligibility is 8
Mass Cash Grant
- State-funded program
- Eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of state funding
- Available to undergraduate students who are Massachusetts residents
Mass Part-Time Grant
- Needs-based tuition credit
- An institutional tuition credit program
- Eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need and fees charged
- Available to undergraduate students who are Massachusetts residents
- A state-funded program
- Available to undergraduate students who are Massachusetts residents attending part time (6-11 credits)
- Eligibility is based on yourExpected Family Contribution (EFC)
Institutional Grants:
UMass Boston Grant
- A university-funded grant
- Eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need
- Available to undergraduate students
UMass Boston Fee Grant
- Need-based tuition credit
- An institutional tuition credit program
- Eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need and fees charged
- Available to undergraduate students who are Massachusetts residents
Campus Living Grant
- Need-based funds awarded to first-year students who express interest in living on-campus
- Must maintain eligibility for Pell grant funds
- Must remain enrolled full-time (12+ credits)
- Must live on-campus
- Funds will be disbursed to the student's account and applied to any outstanding charges. Excess funds, if available, can be used to help pay for the cost of living on campus.
