Financial Aid for Undergraduates

A Cash Grant is a need-based MassArt grant available to eligible Massachusetts residents pursuing their first bachelor’s degree.

A MassArt Grant is a need-based grant funded by the College.

A Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students with significant financial need. Eligibility is determined through the FAFSA.

A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a limited federal grant awarded to some Pell Grant recipients with exceptional financial need.

A MASSGrant is a state-funded grant for eligible Massachusetts residents who complete their FAFSA by the state deadline (May 1). Funds are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need and have no prior bachelor’s degree.

The state may require additional information from a student’s family to determine eligibility. If additional information is requested, it is important to comply immediately. Students who do not comply in a timely manner lose their award.

Students from outside Massachusetts should contact their state financial aid agency to determine eligibility for state-specific awards and whether they may be used at MassArt.

Please notify MassArt’s Office of Student Financial Assistance if you receive a transferable award from outside Massachusetts. It will be included in your financial aid package.

All MassArt applicants are automatically considered for eligible merit scholarships. No additional application is required. 

Accepted applicants are reviewed beginning March 1. Recipients are notified through the Admissions portal.

Scholarships may be renewed for up to eight semesters, subject to the terms of the award, unless you’re an Art Education major, in which case your scholarship may be applied to the required ninth semester. 

Students enrolled in six credits or fewer receive 50 percent of the semester award.

Students with merit scholarships have their eligibility re-evaluated at the end of each term. Students on Academic Probation or Subject to Dismissal will lose their scholarship.

If you lose your merit scholarship due to an extenuating circumstance, you may appeal for reinstatement.  Commonly accepted grounds for appeal include:

• Serious ill health
• Significant accident or injury 
• Bereavement due to the loss of a close family member 
• Victim of a crime
• Other unforeseen circumstance

Applicants and returning students are also automatically considered for MassArt’s endowed scholarships based on academic and demographic criteria. Eligible applicants are identified during the application review process and forwarded to the scholarship committee for consideration. 

Returning students may be nominated by faculty and then reviewed by the scholarship committee. 

Some endowed scholarships are renewable, some for only one year.

MassArt President’s Scholarships are for accepted Massachusetts first-year and transfer applicants.

• They are merit-based, and financial need is not a factor.
• These scholarships are renewable for up to four years.

The Senator Paul E. Tsongas Scholarship is awarded annually to five Massachusetts first-year students and covers all tuition and fees for four years.

• Recipients must place in the top ten percent of their class or hold a grade point average of 3.75. They must also have a combined SAT score of 1200 or higher or have earned at least two grades of at least 3.5 (B+) or better in advanced placement or honors courses. 
• Tsongas Scholars are chosen from accepted applicants who meet these criteria, and who also have exemplary portfolios and other admission submissions.
• Preference is given to candidates who demonstrate financial need.

The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship is for students graduating from Massachusetts high schools.

• This scholarship is a tuition credit and does not cover room and board, fees, or expenses.
• Students may not use more than one tuition credit toward their cost of attendance. 
• The tuition credit will be extended for eight consecutive semesters, as long as the student is enrolled in 12 or more semester credits, and is not on academic probation or subject to dismissal. 
• Eligibility criteria can be found at Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

MassArt Dean’s Scholarships are merit-based awards for accepted first-time undergraduate and transfer applicants from New England.

• These scholarships are renewable for up to four years.

The Trustees Scholarship is awarded to six recipients per year.

• It covers all tuition and fee charges and is renewable for up to four years.
• Scholarships are awarded to students with high grades and outstanding portfolios who also have demonstrated financial need.
• The scholarship is available to US citizens and legal permanent residents. 

MassArt Provost’s Scholarships are merit-based awards for accepted first-time first-year and transfer applicants from outside of New England.

• These scholarships are renewable for up to four years.

The Trustees Scholarship is the highest award for out-of-state applicants.

• Awarded to six recipients per year, it covers all tuition and fee charges and is renewable for up to four years.
• Each year, the selection committee identifies up to six Trustees Scholarship recipients.
• Trustees Scholarships are awarded to top academic students with high grades and outstanding portfolios who also have demonstrated financial need.
• This scholarship is available to U.S. citizens and eligible permanent residents.

MassArt students may apply for scholarships offered by foundations, private or community organizations, employers, and other outside sources.

Carefully review eligibility requirements and application deadlines before applying.

• Art Deadlines List
• Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
• CollegeBoard
• CollegeNET
• College Planning Center
• CareerOnestop.org
• National Scholarship Directory by FastWeb 
• Rhode Island Foundation Scholarship/Fellowship Opportunities
• Scholarship System
• Scholarship America
• Scholarships for Veterans
• Unafraid Educators Scholarship List
• Unigo

The Armed Forces Tuition Waiver is available to eligible active members of the armed forces stationed in Massachusetts.

• Members of the MA Army or Air National Guard are eligible for 100 percent tuition and fee remission.
• Please contact the Massachusetts Army National Guard Education Services Office for more information.

The Veterans Tuition Waiver is available to students who have served in the armed forces who meet Massachusetts requirements.

The Higher Education Employee Tuition Waiver is available to eligible public higher education employees, spouses, and dependent children.

• Guidelines are established by the Department of Higher Education.
• Appropriate documentation may be obtained by contacting your institution’s human resources office.

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission Tuition Waiver is available to clients of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.

Please contact your Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission counselor for more information.

The Massachusetts State Employees Tuition Remission Program is for state employees and their spouses.

A Tuition Remission Certificate must be completed by the employee and their Human Resources Office and submitted for each semester the student is enrolled.

Native American Tuition Waivers are for American Indian residents of Massachusetts who attend a state college or university.

Contact the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs for information and an application.

Senior Citizen Tuition Waivers are for Massachusetts residents over 60 years old. Please submit a driver’s license, birth certificate, or other evidence of age verification to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate recognizes high academic achievement on the MCAS and other measures of academic accomplishment.

• Recipients must maintain a college 3.3 GPA or the equivalent.
• The Massachusetts Department of Education determines Koplik Certificate of Mastery tuition waiver awards.

The Valedictorian Program Tuition Waiver is for Massachusetts high school students who have been designated as valedictorians.

The DCF Adopted Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program is designed to lessen the financial burden on adopting parents in the Commonwealth. It is for children and young adults, age 24 or under who have been adopted through DCF by Massachusetts employees or residents.

The DCF Foster Child Tuition Waiver and Fee Assistance Program provides financial support for children in state custody who were not adopted or reunited with kin.

In order to determine your eligibility for work-study, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students take on a wide variety of roles and responsibilities, from supporting administrative offices and leading campus tours to helping in a studio or gallery. 

Hiring managers post their available positions and rehire opportunities on Interview Exchange. Filter available positions by the Study/Work-Study category.

Once you have found a position you’re interested in, click on “Apply now” to submit an application through the portal.

Students who do not secure a work-study position will not receive additional funding to replace anticipated work-study earnings.

Work-study students interested in working off-campus may apply for community service work-study jobs through the PartnershipWORKS program in the Center for Art and Community Partnerships (CACP).

Federal Direct Loans are student loans funded by the federal government. Loans must be repaid with interest according to the terms of the promissory note. The amount you may borrow depends on your financial need, dependency status, grade level, and previous borrowing.

Federal Direct Subsidized Loans are available to eligible undergraduate students based on financial need. The federal government pays the interest while you are enrolled at least half time and during eligible deferment periods.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are available regardless of financial need. You are responsible for the interest that accrues while you are enrolled, during the grace period, and during deferment periods.

You may pay the interest as it accrues or allow it to be capitalized. Capitalization means the unpaid interest will be added to the principal balance of the loan at the beginning of the repayment period.

The aggregate Federal Direct Loan limit is:

• $31,000 for dependent undergraduate students, including no more than $23,000 in subsidized loans.
• $57,500 for independent undergraduate students, including no more than $23,000 in subsidized loans

Federal Direct Loan repayment generally begins six months after you graduate, withdraw from MassArt, or drop below half-time enrollment.

To remain eligible for a Federal Direct Loan, you must:

• Be enrolled in at least six credits per semester
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
• Continue to meet federal student aid requirements

If you are a transfer student, federal borrowing limits include loans you may have received while attending other institutions.

The Massachusetts No Interest Loan (NIL) is a need-based state loan available to eligible Massachusetts residents. The loan does not accrue any interest, but it must be repaid. Repayment generally begins six months after the borrower graduates, withdraws, or drops below half-time enrollment.

Private student loans, sometimes called alternative loans, are issued by banks and other private lenders. They may help cover educational expenses not met by other aid.

Your maximum eligibility for a private loan is limited to your cost of attendance minus any other aid you’re receiving.

Approval is based on creditworthiness, and many students may need a creditworthy cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or eligible permanent resident.

Before selecting a private loan, compare interest rates, fees, repayment terms, and borrower protections before selecting a private loan.

We recommend applying for no more than one or two private loans each academic year. If you are approved for more than one loan, contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance to confirm which loan you intend to use. Otherwise, MassArt may certify the first approved application it receives and cancel the others.

Unless you request otherwise, private loans are generally certified for disbursement for both the fall and spring semesters. You should contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance after completing your loan application if you would like a one-term disbursement.

These lenders offer private student loans with competitive rates while providing good customer service and electronic loan processing.

MassArt does not endorse a particular lender or loan product. Students may borrow from any eligible lender and should compare interest rates, fees, repayment terms, borrower protections, and cosigner requirements before applying.

If you have any additional questions about borrowing a private loan, please call the Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 879-7849.

Eligibility for the PLUS Loan depends on a modest credit check that determines whether the parent has an adverse credit history. If a dependent student’s parent is denied a PLUS Loan, the student becomes eligible to borrow additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan funding, up to an additional $5,000, depending on the student’s grade level.

If denied, a parent may appeal the decision, or obtain a credit-eligible endorser to endorse the loan. If you have any questions about the reason for a denied PLUS Loan, you may contact the Direct Loan Origination Center at 1 (800) 557-7394.

You can review current Federal interest rates and fees on studentaid.gov.

Step 1: Apply for the Parent PLUS Loan

• To request a Parent PLUS Loan, parents will apply online at studentaid.gov. Parents will need to sign in using their own FSA ID. Once signed in, they can click on “Apply for a Direct PLUS Loan” to apply.
• If approved, MassArt will be notified and will add the loan to the student’s account as a pending credit.

Step 2: Complete the Master Promissory Note

• New PLUS Loan borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) once their application is approved. The MPN will cover all PLUS Loans borrowed over the course of the student’s education at MassArt. It outlines the terms and conditions of the loan and documents the borrower’s promise to repay it.
  
• To access their MPN, parents will need to sign in to their Federal Student Aid account and click on “Complete Loan Agreement (MPN).”

Step 3: Review the Disclosure Statement

• Before the loan is disbursed to the College, a disclosure statement will be sent to the borrower regarding the loan amount to be disbursed. A parent may adjust the amount or even cancel the loan within 14 days of disbursement by contacting the Office of Student Financial Assistance at (617) 879-7849. 
• After the loan has been disbursed to the College, if the parent wishes to return funds to the loan servicer, they may contact Direct Loans at 1 (800) 848-0979.

Please Note: If your student is expecting a financial aid refund for living expenses or art supplies because the financial aid is greater than your student’s school bill, you must be sure to complete these loan instructions prior to the start of the semester term to ensure that your funds will not be delayed. The first refund of the semester will not be available generally until mid-October during the fall semester, and mid-March for the spring semester. This is due to a federal regulation that states that the student is not entitled to all of the financial aid until 60 percent of the semester has passed. Please plan your finances accordingly.

Direct Parent PLUS Loan repayment begins 60 days from the date the loan is fully disbursed. 

Parents have the option to defer their PLUS Loan repayment while their student is enrolled for at least six credits per semester, but can choose to pay off the accumulating interest during that time. 

To defer repayment for their PLUS Loan, parents must contact the Direct Loan Servicing Center at 1 (800) 848-0979 after the loan has been disbursed to the College.

If the amount of the Parent PLUS Loan exceeds the full billed expenses, a financial aid refund will be issued once the funds are disbursed.

Financial aid refunds are typically issued mid-October for the fall semester and mid-March for the spring semester (once the funds have been received by the College).

If the parent borrower requested on the Parent PLUS Loan application to receive any credit-balance refund directly, the refund will be mailed to the parent.

Once the Business Office disburses the refunds, they will notify students via MassArt email when refunds are available.