Help Empower the Next Generation of Students
Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship Program
Are you passionate about empowering future generations? You can make a difference in the lives of young people in your community by becoming a teacher. We want to help you to pursue a rewarding and fulfilling career in education by easing some of the financial burden of earning a degree.
The Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship Program seeks to address the teacher shortage in Massachusetts and support individuals with up to $25,000 per year toward their college education. This scholarship makes it more affordable for those enrolling in a baccalaureate program or post-baccalaureate coursework, who intend to obtain their teaching license to pursue a career in a Massachusetts K-12 public school.
Students perform better in school when they have teachers they can relate to. However, many communities in the Commonwealth are experiencing a shortage of teachers, particularly teachers of color. Tomorrow's Teachers Scholarships will help put more teachers in our public schools and give children more diverse role models—like you—in classrooms throughout Massachusetts.
This program is subject to annual appropriation and is considered a repayment through service scholarship, that will revert to a loan, to be repaid if the teaching service obligation is not met - one year of teaching will forgive one year of scholarship.
Student Eligibility Criteria
If you are a Massachusetts resident that has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you may be eligible for a Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship.
Applicants must also meet the following eligibility 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
- Has not earned prior baccalaureate degree, or the equivalent, except for those pursuing or intending to pursue post-baccalaureate course work in an approved educator preparation program at a Massachusetts 4-year public institution of higher education
- Enroll, as a matriculated student, in an undergraduate or post baccalaureate degree program, full-time (minimum of 12 credits, or the equivalent), unless otherwise agreed upon, in an approved course of study that meets the licensure requirements for employment at a Massachusetts public elementary or secondary school
- 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.
- Not be in default on any federal or state Student Loans for attendance at any institution, or owe a refund for any previous state financial aid program
- Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) according to the institution’s requirements.
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.
Scholarship Conditions and Recipient Responsibilities
Students will need to agree to the following terms and conditions via the online application:
- Acknowledge that this scholarship is considered repayment through service and in absence of fulfilling that commitment, the scholarship reverts to a loan that must be repaid by the scholarship recipient, per the terms of the Scholarship Promissory Note.
- Acknowledge the set forth repayment through service schedule, that one year of teaching will forgive one year of scholarship.
- Complete the scholarship application and sign a promissory note, annually, for continuation of scholarship funds.
- Provide an official transcript at the conclusion of each academic year to confirm continued eligibility requirements for program of study and progress towards degree completion. Incoming first-year students are required to submit a declaration of their major from the institution’s registrar’s office.
- Sign a scholarship agreement to “obtain the appropriate certification in accordance with section 38G of chapter 71” and “commit to teaching for 4 years in a school district, as defined in section 2 of chapter 70, in the commonwealth.” Failure to complete the required 4-year teaching service will result in a repayment of funds as defined in the agreement.
- Become employed as a teacher of record, within 12 months of degree completion or the completion of post-baccalaureate course work in an approved educator preparation program.
- Annually provide proof of employment to document fulfillment of the service obligation.
Scholarship Amount and Terms
Scholarships of up to $25,000 per academic year will be awarded per student, subject to the availability of funds which may influence the amount awarded. The scholarships may be used to cover educational expenses that make up the Cost of Attendance (COA) including but not limited to tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, childcare, and personal expenses.
Undergraduate students may receive scholarship funds for up to a maximum of 4 years or 8 semesters. Students pursuing post-baccalaureate coursework may receive scholarship funds for up to a maximum of 3 semesters.
Eligible Institutions
To be considered for the Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship, students must be enrolled in an approved course of study at a public university in Massachusetts that meets the licensure requirements for employment at a Massachusetts public elementary or secondary school. The eligible universities are:
- Bridgewater State University
- Fitchburg State University
- Framingham State University
- Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- Salem State University
- Westfield State University
- Worcester State University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Boston
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- University of Massachusetts Lowell
How To Apply:
- Make sure you have completed and submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can file your FAFSA electronically here.
- Create a MASSAid Student Portal account here if you do not already have one.
- Complete the Tomorrow’s Teachers Scholarship application in the MASSAid Student Portal system.
The 2024-2025 application will be available later, once funding for the program is available. Please continue to check our website for an update.
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