Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program

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

The Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program was created by the Massachusetts Legislature to support economic growth and development. The purpose is to encourage degree completion in high demand disciplines that will help address the workforce needs of the Commonwealth by providing scholarship assistance to support the educational costs of students pursuing such programs of study.

The 2023–2024 application for the Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship will be open to students at Massachusetts public and independent institutions who are pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) or Health Professions, or Education degree.

Who Is Eligible?

A student qualifies if they are enrolled in an eligible program and meet the following requirements:

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.
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
Must demonstrate achieving and maintaining a minimum college-level GPA of 3.0 on coursework completed after high school graduation

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

In 2023-24, an eligible institution shall be public or independent institution in Massachusetts.

Award Amounts

Subject to available funds, scholarships will be awarded to students based on enrollment status as follows:

Full-time enrollment (12+ credits)

Up to $6,500 per year or $3,250 per semester at independent institutions
Up to $6,500 per year or $3,250 per semester at UMass
Up to $5,500 per year or $2,750 per semester at State Universities
Up to $4,000 per year or $2,000 per semester at Community Colleges

Part-time enrollment (6-11 credits)

Up to$3,250 per year or $1,625 per semester at independent institutions
Up to $3,250 per year or $1,625 per semester at UMass
Up to $2,750 per year or $1,375 per semester at State Universities
Up to $2,000 per year or $1,000 per semester at Community Colleges

*These amounts represent maximum award values. Final award values will be determined by OSFA during the selection process, based on the eligible applicant pool and the annual budget appropriation.

How to Apply

File a 2023-2024 FAFSA
Create a MASSAid Student Portal account if you do not already have one.
Complete the High Demand Scholarship application in the MASSAid Student Portal System, located under the “Grant/Scholarship Online Applications” tab
Upload an unofficial copy of your transcript that clearly indicates your current major and cumulative GPA. Transcripts may be uploaded to MASSAid by accessing the “My High Demand” tab in the Student Portal and clicking the “Upload College Transcript” button.
- OSFA reserves the right to request official transcripts from an applicant if it deems necessary

The 2023-2024 High Demand Scholarship application will open on August 15, 2023 and remain open until October 16, 2023. Please contact osfa-mhds@dhe.mass.edu with questions.

For further information, please review the Massachusetts High Demand FAQ Document.

High Demand Scholarship Program Procedures and Guidelines