State law prohibits the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education from disclosing any information submitted in the Massachusetts Application for Student Financial Assistance (MASFA). There is always some risk, however, associated with sharing personal information. The Department is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of your information to the greatest extent possible under state and federal law.
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) a student’s personally identifiable information is protected from being shared with third parties. Institutions are expected to refrain from unnecessarily obtaining information about a student’s immigration or citizenship status without a reason, and only to the extent needed to make tuition and financial aid eligibility determinations. Institutions should also provide training to all faculty and staff on privacy policies.
The 2027-2028 MASFA will be available later this fall. The application will be available on the MA DHE/OSFA website. Please continue to check back on this site for more information: In-State Tuition Rates and MA State Financial Aid / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.
Effective July 1, 2023, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts created a pathway to expand access to in-state tuition and state financial aid. This pathway is available in addition to the existing pathways for a student to establish eligibility for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid.
To qualify for the in-state tuition rate with “High School Completer” status, a student must have attended at least three years of high school (or district-approved home school) in Massachusetts and have graduated from high school in Massachusetts or have received the equivalent of a high school diploma (for example, a GED or HiSet) in Massachusetts.
Additional requirements to qualify for in-state tuition as a High School Completer are:
Students may also be eligible for in-state tuition rates by demonstrating eligibility via the Board of Higher Education Residency Status Policy pathway. This pathway requires students to meet certain residency duration, immigration status, and documentation requirements. For details, please visit In-State Tuition Rates and MA State Financial Aid / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.
Students seeking access to the in-state tuition rate with “High School Completer” status must apply using the Tuition Equity and Affidavit form and submit that document to the institution where they are currently or intend to be enrolled. Each Massachusetts public college and university is responsible for determining the tuition rate classification for its students. Questions regarding the status of your form’s review should be directed to your state college or university.
Any student meeting the requirements may apply for eligibility for in-state tuition through High School Completer status by submitting the Tuition Equity and Affidavit form to their state college or university.
The new provision became law as of July 1, 2023 and can be used for any term that begins after that date. Students may use the Tuition Equity and Affidavit form to apply to their institution for the in-state tuition rate, which, if eligible, will be applied retroactively and will result in a credit or reimbursement for the difference in rate as of that date.
Yes. Each college has a process called reclassification, which is how students file a request to be changed from the out-of-state tuition rate to the in-state tuition rate. A student who meets the High School Completer criteria may submit the Tuition Equity and Affidavit form to receive the in-state tuition rate. Note that any reclassification will only be effective as of the beginning of the semester during which the institution makes the final decision to reclassify the student. Information on the traditional pathway for in-state tuition rates can be found at In-State Tuition Rates and MA State Financial Aid / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.
The student is required to complete at least three years of high school (9th-12th grade) in Massachusetts. Any combination of three years of enrollment is acceptable. The school may be public or private but must be physically located within Massachusetts, or alternatively, the student must have completed a Massachusetts district-approved home school plan. A student must also have graduated from a Massachusetts high school or have received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Massachusetts (GED/HiSET).
No. A student’s parent or parents’ immigration status is irrelevant. A student’s immigration status may impact their eligibility for the High School Completer pathway, as this pathway is unavailable for diplomatic officials and those only authorized to work or visit the U.S. on a short-term temporary basis.
The Tuition Equity and Affidavit form must be submitted to the institution where the student is applying/admitted and/or enrolled.
No. For more information regarding state financial aid eligibility, please contact your institution’s financial aid office.
No. “High School Completer” status does not change Federal requirements for Federal forms of financial aid (for example Pell Grants, Direct Loans, etc.).
A student, or applicant, can apply immediately by providing the Tuition Equity and Affidavit form to the institution they are attending, or hope to attend, for a determination on in-state tuition rate eligibility. Students can simultaneously submit a MASFA application to receive a determination of eligibility for state financial aid.
Students are encouraged to contact their institution to determine the appropriate appeals process. Students who remain aggrieved after exhausting the institution’s appeals processes may submit their concerns via the DHE complaint process.
As long as a prospective High School Completer student meets the required criteria under the law, they will be eligible to receive in-state tuition rates at the Commonwealth’s 29 public campuses, if an in-state tuition rate is available. Please note, however, that courses or programs offered outside of a degree program and courses offered not-for-credit may not be available at an in-state rate; and may not be eligible for state financial aid. For questions regarding tuition rates and financial aid eligibility, please contact the institution directly for assistance.
Student eligibility for in-state tuition and state financial aid under the High School Completer pathway is not limited by age, and any combination of three years of high school completion is acceptable. Students must have attended three years of high school in Massachusetts (and have graduated from a MA high school or have a MA high school degree equivalent). The three years of high school attendance do not need to be consecutive and may have occurred at any time in the past.
The student must have 1) attended high school (or district-approved home school) during three academic years of high school (9th – 12th grade) in Massachusetts and 2) graduated from a Massachusetts high school or have obtained a Massachusetts high school diploma equivalent. The school may be public or private but must be physically located within Massachusetts.
The student’s three years of high school attendance at a Massachusetts high school (public or private) do not need to be consecutive and may have occurred at any time. As such, a student-applicant who, for example, enrolled late (e.g., during sophomore year of high school) and graduates, or alternatively who is enrolled for three years but drops out early (e.g., during junior or senior years) but ultimately obtains a high school diploma equivalent, may be eligible under the High School Completer pathway.
Students only need to provide the number. Any validly issued SSN will suffice, including an unrestricted, work-restricted, or nonwork purpose SSN.
Evidence reflecting issuance of an ITIN should include any correspondence to that effect from the IRS or any tax return filed with the ITIN.
Yes, High School Completer status is available to any student who has completed three years at a public or private Massachusetts high school and received a high school diploma or equivalent in Massachusetts.
To qualify for in-state tuition rates or state financial aid with “High School Completer” status, a student must have attended at least three years of high school in Massachusetts and graduated from high school in Massachusetts or have received the equivalent of a high school diploma (for example, a GED or HiSet) in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, GED prep programs are not identified in the law as qualifying as a substitute for enrollment in a Massachusetts high school. The student, however, should consult with the institution to which the student intends to enroll to explore whether the student may be eligible for the in-state tuition rate under the Board of Higher Education Residency Status Policy.
The law does not require the institution to confirm a student’s citizenship or immigration status. Submission of the Tuition Equity Form and Affidavit meets the current documentation requirements for the High School Completer pathway.
Homeschooled students may meet the high school attendance and completion requirements, provided they are able to submit evidence of the education plans approved by the superintendent of the district where the student studied for at least three years.
Yes, subject to meeting the eligibility requirement of each state financial aid program. If a student is determined eligible for in-state tuition rates with “High School Completer” status, they may also be eligible for state financial aid, subject to each program’s individual requirements. The High School Completer pathway allows a student to be considered for state financial aid on the same terms as other individuals. That means that students must meet the eligibility criteria for each financial aid program for which the student is seeking access.
Massachusetts state financial aid programs can be accessed online at Office of Student Financial Assistance / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. Once determined to be eligible for High School Completer status, the student may also be eligible for state financial aid on the same terms as other individuals.
Once determined to be eligible under the High School Completer pathway, the student may be eligible for all state financial aid programs administered by the department provided:
Additional Financial Aid information can be found online at Office of Student Financial Assistance / Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.
Students can submit their Tuition Equity Form and Affidavit for an eligibility determination regarding in-state tuition rates and the MASFA to receive a determination of eligibility for state financial aid at any time but should be mindful of priority financial aid application deadlines.
Note that if a student has concerns or disagreement about a state financial aid determination, they may submit their concerns via the DHE complaint process.
Yes. Certain TPS holders may be ineligible for federal financial aid, but may be eligible for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid under the High School Completer pathway.
Yes, any student eligible under the law may apply for both in-state tuition rates and will be eligible for consideration for state financial aid programs for which they otherwise qualify.
It is important to note that a student should only fill out one financial aid application, either the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA), not both. If a student is unable to complete the FAFSA, they may complete the MASFA instead.
No, a student does not need to wait for confirmation from the Department or their institution to begin the MASFA process. Students should fill out the MASFA as soon as possible if they are ineligible to complete a FAFSA.
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