Incoming Students: Scholarships & Financial Support — Fall 2007
General Scholarship Information
The University of Massachusetts Amherst awards both academic and non-academic scholarships. Academic scholarships are awarded based solely on a student’s academic record--SAT scores, GPA, class rank (if available), major-related coursework, and/or audition or portfolio results. Most academic scholarships are not need-based. In general, entering students do not need to participate in a separate scholarship application process to be considered for the following UMass Amherst scholarships. When they file their application for admission by the stated application deadline, they are also automatically considered for these scholarships. In many cases, scholarship notification accompanies the acceptance letter. Information on scholarships for entering students is also available through the University Admissions website.
Scholarships Terms and Conditions
Scholarships are renewable for up to a maximum of eight consecutive full-time semesters, or until completion of the degree program, whichever comes first. Full-time study consists of enrollment in 12 or more credits per semester.
To renew their scholarships, students must maintain a minimum grade point average each semester they are enrolled at UMass Amherst. The minimum GPA is usually higher for academic scholarships than it is for personal scholarships. Please see specific scholarship listings below for minimum GPA requirements.
The total of all awards, including scholarships, tuition waivers, grants and loans, may not exceed the total cost of attendance. If students enroll at another college or university, their scholarship offers are immediately withdrawn. Exceptions may be made if students are not able to attend UMass Amherst for documented personal medical or family medical reasons, as long as students do not attend college elsewhere in the interim. Medical deferrals are usually for one or two semesters.
University scholarships awarded to attend UMass Amherst are not transferable to any other college or university. In general, the total of all grants, loans, and tuition waivers, may not exceed the total cost of attendance at the University.
Students who meet the criteria for more than one UMass Amherst merit scholarship or other institutional award(s), may only receive one scholarship, and will be awarded the one with the highest value.
Scholarships for Entering Students
Academic Honors Scholarship
This $5,000 scholarship is awarded to the first-place winner of the Massachusetts Science Fair. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers.
Scholarship application: Documentation of first place award must be submitted
Notification: Admissions Office notification after acceptance and upon submission of documentation
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher
Academic Honors Engineering Scholarship
UMass Amherst offers a limited number of $5,000 scholarships to students based on academic achievement, special talents, and financial need. Preference is given to students who are underrepresented in the engineering program and/or to transfer students. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers.
Scholarship application: None required
Notification: College of Engineering notification occurs after acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher.
Chancellor’s Talent Award
UMass Amherst offers tuition waivers to freshman admits who present especially strong art portfolios or who present strong performances in music or dance auditions. This scholarship may not be combined with other tuition waivers.
Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Academic department notification occurs after audition or portfolio review
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher
Commonwealth College Scholarships
UMass Amherst offers scholarships to Commonwealth College freshman admits whose SAT and GPA profile is especially strong. Other factors are also considered. Please note that UMass Amherst does not use the GPA provided by the high school but instead recalculates a GPA for every applicant, using the same weighting for honors, AP, and college coursework. This recalculation is done in accordance with the standards outlined by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.
Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification at time of acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.2 or higher
Commonwealth College Engineering Scholarships
UMass Amherst offers scholarships to Commonwealth College freshman engineering admits whose SAT and GPA profile is especially strong. Other factors are also considered. Please note that UMass Amherst does not use the GPA provided by the high school but instead recalculates a GPA for every applicant, using the same weighting for honors, AP, and college coursework. This recalculation is done in accordance with the standards outlined by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. Applicants must have declared an engineering major on their original application for admission in order to be eligible for these scholarships.
Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification at the time of acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: In order to retain the Commonwealth College scholarship funds, students must earn a 3.2 or higher; to retain the College of Engineering scholarship funds, students must earn a 3.0 or higher.
Community Scholarships
The Community Scholarships are awarded to students who are low income and/or who are first generation college. The scholarship committee takes into consideration a student’s academic record and level of academic challenge; however, the review also includes factors such as school activities, community service, and work experience. This scholarship may be combined with tuition waivers.
Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification at the time of acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.5 or higher
Director's Scholarships
UMass Amherst awards Director’s Scholarships to applicants with strong academic and extracurricular records. Once the scholarship funds are disbursed, no additional scholarships may be awarded.
Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification at the time of acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 2.7 or higher
Engineers Incentive Scholarships
A limited number of $5,000 scholarships are awarded to high-achieving out-of-state engineering freshman admits.
Scholarship application: None required
Notification: College of Engineering after acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.0 or higher
National Merit Scholarships
These scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board. Five scholarships are offered per entering class, based on a competitive review of the freshman National Merit Scholars who have applied to the university. This scholarship may not be combined with tuition waivers, since the scholarship already covers the full cost of tuition, fees, room, and board.
Scholarship application: None required
Notification: Admissions Office notification after acceptance
UMass Amherst GPA requirement: 3.2 or higher
Other Massachusetts Scholarship Programs
The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship
This program is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Education for students who are graduating from Massachusetts high schools in 2007. In order to receive this scholarship and apply it to the cost of attending UMass Amherst, students must submit a copy of their scholarship letter to the UMass Amherst Financial Aid Office and must also have filed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form.
Scholarship awards are based on the grade 10 English and Mathematics MCAS results:
- score in the Advanced category in either the Mathematics or the English language arts section of the grade 10 MCAS test;
- score in the Proficient or Advanced category on the second subject (Mathematics or English language arts); and
- have a combined score on these assessments that ranks in the top 25% in their school district.
This scholarship is a tuition waiver. It does not cover fees, room, or board expenses. Students may not use more than one tuition waiver towards their cost of attendance. The tuition waiver will be extended for a total of eight consecutive semesters, as long as the student is enrolled in 12 or more semester credits and maintains a 3.0 or higher overall GPA.
For more information about the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, contact the MA Department of Education’s Office of Student Assessment at 781-338-3625. Or visit the Mass Board of Higher Education's John and Abigail Adams Scholarship website.
The Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award
This program is administered by the Massachusetts Board of Education. In order to receive this award and apply it to the cost of attending UMass Amherst, students must complete an application form, which is available from high school guidance counselors. They must also submit a copy of their award certificate to the UMass Amherst Financial Aid Office and must also have filed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form.
Consideration for the Koplik Certificate of Mastery is based on the grade 10 English and Mathematics MCAS results. To be considered, students must have received an Advanced score in either the Mathematics or the English language arts section, and a score of Proficient or Advanced on the second subject (Mathematics or English language arts). To receive the certificate, the student must also fulfill additional requirements via the AP or SAT-II exams. For more specific information, see the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education website.
This award is a tuition waiver. It does not cover fees, room, or board expenses. Students may not use more than one tuition waiver towards their cost of attendance. The tuition waiver will be extended for a total of eight consecutive semesters, as long as the student is enrolled in 12 or more semester credits and maintains a 3.3 or higher GPA each semester.
For more information about the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Program, contact the program at 781-338-3099. Or visit the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education website.
University Scholars Program
This program is administered by the University of Massachusetts President’s Office, which invites principals of all accredited high schools in Massachusetts to nominate students for the University Scholars Program by the February 15 nomination deadline. First- and second-ranked Massachusetts high school seniors with 1200+ SAT (ACT 27+) scores who attend accredited public or private high schools in Massachusetts and meet all eligibility requirements are awarded scholarships of up to $10,000 to attend the University of Massachusetts. Eligibility for the program is determined without regard to financial need. The University of Massachusetts President’s Office will notify the Undergraduate Admissions Office about scholarship recipients shortly after the nomination deadline date.
Scholarships are granted for a maximum of eight semesters to recipients who maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA while taking 12 or more credits for semester. Please note that this scholarship will be reduced by the amount of any tuition waiver, unless it is a merit-based tuition waiver, such as the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship or the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Award.
Students who are awarded this scholarship may not combine it with any additional UMass Amherst merit scholarship or other institutional award(s): students may only receive one scholarship or institutional award and may chose the award with the highest value.
For more information about the University Scholars Program, contact the University of Massachusetts President’s Office at 617-287-7000. Or visit its website at http://www.massachusetts.edu/scholarships.
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