MassGrant Program

The MASSGrant Program is administered and awards are made by the Office of Student Financial Assistance under the MA Department of Higher Education. Scholarship eligibility is verified by the Financial Aid Office. For the 2024-2025 academic year, scholarship awards at Worcester State University range from $1400 to $3,000. Application is made by completing the FAFSA. Massachusetts residents applying for financial aid who will enroll full-time must apply for MASSGrant by July 1, 2024. MASSGrant eligibility is limited to eight semesters.

MassGrant Plus and MassGrant Plus Expansion Programs

The MASSGrant Plus and MassGrant Plus Expansion Programs are funds available to in-state Massachusetts residents.  MassGrant Plus funds are awarded to Pell eligible students attending at least half-time.   MassGrant Plus Expansion funds are for part-time pell eligible students or full-time non-pell eligible students (with an SAI up to 15,000).   

Worcester State University Need-Based Tuition Waiver and Massachusetts Cash Grant Program

Full and partial need-based tuition waivers are awarded to selected students who demonstrate financial need and who are:

• undergraduate students
• in good academic standing
• legal residents of Massachusetts.

Waivers may not exceed a semester’s tuition charge and other waivers and/or tuition remissions for which a student is eligible will be deducted from the tuition charged before the need-based tuition waiver amount is determined. Award amounts are determined by the Financial Aid Office.

Massachusetts Cash Grant is awarded based on need and cannot exceed tuition and fees. Award amounts are determined by the Financial Aid Office.

Categorical Tuition Waivers

Worcester State University students may be considered for tuition waivers based on the following designations (contact the Bursar about providing documentation of eligibility):

Veterans Tuition Waiver: As provided in M.G.L. ch. 4 s.7, cl.43 as amended by the Acts of 2005, ch.130. Please contact Worcester State University, Office of the Registrar, for further details, qualifications, and information.

Native American Tuition Waiver: Available and certified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver: Available for persons over the age of 60.

Armed Forces Tuition Waiver: Available for an active member of the Armed Forces including Army, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard stationed and residing in Massachusetts.

Clients of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission or Commission for the Blind: Available as certified by the respective commission.

Other Tuition Waivers

John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program: Awards non-need-based state-supported undergraduate tuition waivers to students who are awarded John and Abigail Adams Scholarship by the Department of Education. Completion of a FAFSA, continuous full-time enrollment at a state college or university, and a 3.0 are required.

Mass Transfer Program: Available to students who have completed an associate degree at a public community college under the Mass Transfer Program. The waiver is equal to 100% of the resident tuition rate at Worcester State University for the two years of a student's enrollment immediately following their community college enrollment. A 3.0 GPA is required for renewal of the waiver.

Department of Social Services Adopted Children Tuition Waiver: This tuition waiver encompasses 100% of tuition for state-supported courses at all of the Massachusetts public institutions of higher education, excluding graduate courses. Eligible students include all students in the custody of the Department of Social Services adopted by eligible Massachusetts’ residents through the Department of Social Services. Students must be twenty-four (24) or under. The Department of Social Services will provide certification of eligibility for the waiver; please contact them for further information.

Department of Social Services Foster Care Tuition Waiver: This tuition waiver encompasses 100% of tuition for state-supported courses at all of the Massachusetts public institutions of higher education, excluding graduate course. Eligible students include all students in the custody of the Department of Social Services placed in foster care with eligible Massachusetts’ residents through the Department of Social Services. Students must be twenty-four (24) or under. The Department of Social Services will provide certification of eligibility for the waiver; please contact them for further information.

Massachusetts National Guard Scholarships: Members of the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard and Massachusetts Army National Guard may be eligible for the Tuition and Fee Reimbursement Program. Members must provide a Certificate of Eligibility to the Bursar’s Office. All certificates must be turned in prior to attending classes. Army personnel should contact the Education Service Office or Worcester State University, Office of the Registrar, for more information.

State Employees’ Tuition Remission: State Employees and their dependents that elect to take courses at Worcester State University may have some or all of their tuition waived. Documentation of eligibility should be submitted to the Bursar’s Office. Eligible persons should contact the Personnel Office at their place of employment for further details.

Army/Navy and Marine/Air Force ROTC Scholarship Programs: The ROTC Scholarship is designed to offer financial assistance to outstanding students in the four year programs. Normally, the award is made prior to the student’s first-year of college; however, a student may enter the program in their first-year. Recipients are required to serve on active duty in the branch of the Service they have elected for a period of four years, and then in the active reserve. For the latest information about scholarship opportunities, please contact College of the Holy Cross for Navy and Marine (NROTC) Reserve Officers Training Corps programs or Worcester Polytechnic Institution for Air Force (AROTC) and Army (ROTC) Reserves Officers Training Corps programs.