Incentive Program for Aspiring Teachers Tuition Waiver

*The following is a brief description for students. Institutions should refer to the most recent guidelines for information.

The Incentive Program for Aspiring Teachers Tuition Waiver is designed to complement the Tomorrow's Teachers Scholarship Program. It seeks to attract qualified high school students to the teaching profession by providing four-year tuition and fees scholarships. The incentive provides support to qualified students who, after enrolling in college and earning a minimum 3.0 grade point average, decide to enter a certification program in a field with demonstrated teacher shortages. Students who participate in the program must commit to teaching for two years in a public school in the Commonwealth upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree from the college or university.

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible for an Incentive Program for Aspiring Teachers Tuition Waiver, 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 consistent with Board of Higher Education policy; and
• Have approved eligibility status as a “High School Completer,” ¹ per the Massachusetts tuition equity law, ² or be a U.S. Citizen, permanent legal resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations.
• Have applied for financial aid, using the standard Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a FAFSA equivalent application authorized by the Department of Higher Education.
• Not be in default of any federal or state Student Loans for attendance at any institution or owe a refund for any previous financial aid received.
• Be in his/her third and/or fourth year of college and enrolled in state approved teacher education program field with teacher shortages.
• Be maintaining satisfactory academic progress in accordance with institutional and federal standards.
• Have a cumulative 3.0 grade point average in general education courses.
• Commit to teaching for two (2) years (one year for each year of full or partial tuition waiver received) in a public school in the Commonwealth upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree from the college or university and the appropriate certification pursuant to section 38G of Chapter 71 M.G.L.
• Complete an agreement regarding service and/or repayment (including interest).
• Achieve a 3.0 grade point average in the third year in order to receive the tuition waiver for the second year (senior year).

¹ See www.mass.edu/tuitionequity for more details.

² Pursuant to Section 9 of Chapter 15A, as amended by Section 11 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023.

Eligible Institutions

The nine Massachusetts state universities:

• Bridgewater State University
• Fitchburg State University
• Framingham State University
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• Salem State University
• Westfield State University
• Worcester State University

The four undergraduate campuses of the University of Massachusetts:

• UMass Amherst
• UMass Boston
• UMass Dartmouth
• UMass Lowell

Award Amounts

Students eligible for the Incentive Program for Aspiring Teachers will be entitled to a tuition waiver equal to the resident tuition rate at the state college or participating university campus at which they are enrolled for two years. The tuition waiver for the second year of eligibility (senior year) is contingent upon the student earning a 3.0 grade point average in the third year.

Students forfeit the tuition waiver award if:

• Their college education is not completed within four years of entering the certification program, or
• They fail to complete their two-year teaching commitment within four years following graduation from college.

Persons who participate in the program but forfeit the award shall be obligated to pay the Commonwealth the full amount of the tuition waivers granted to them. The amount due will be prorated according to the fraction of teaching not completed, with interest, as determined by the Board of Higher Education.

Click here to view the full value of tuition waivers, by school, for a full-time student in the current academic year.

How to Apply

Contact the financial aid at the public college or university that you are attending or plan to attend for application requirements and deadlines. You can also contact the DHE’s Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 391-6070 to obtain more information.

Tuition Waiver Guidelines