State & Institutional Financial Aid
In addition to federal aid, students may qualify for state and institutional financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA). Programs include Massachusetts state grants, tuition waivers, and institutional aid awarded directly by Massasoit.
To maximize eligibility, students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA or MASFA by May 1. While some programs have firm deadlines, others remain available throughout the year, including MassReconnect and MassEducate, which are Massachusetts’ two free community college initiatives. Learn more on our Free Community College page.
This page provides an overview of state and institutional financial aid programs currently available at Massasoit, along with basic eligibility information for each.
To qualify a student must:
- Be a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts for at least one year before the start of the academic year
- Be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen under Title IV rules, or qualify as a High School Completer under the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law
- Not have earned a bachelor’s or professional degree
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
- Not be in default on a student loan or owe a refund on previous aid
- Submit the FAFSA (or MAFSA) and complete any required verification
MassGrant: Designed for full-time students enrolled in at least 12 credits. For the 2025–2026 academic year, awards range from $500 to $1,900 per semester, based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) as calculated from the FAFSA or MASFA.
Massachusetts Cash Grant: Available to both full-time and part-time students enrolled in at least 3 credits. Award amounts vary but cannot exceed the combined cost of institutional tuition and fees. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Massasoit students may qualify for several types of tuition waivers that reduce or eliminate the state-supported portion of their tuition. Waivers do not cover course fees or materials and are typically limited to state-supported classes.
Need-Based Tuition Waivers:
Tuition waivers are available for state-supported courses based on financial need. These waivers typically do not apply to classes taught by adjunct faculty or those scheduled during evenings or weekends. The amount awarded cannot exceed the cost of tuition or, when combined with other aid, surpass the student’s demonstrated financial need.
Categorical Tuition Waivers:
Tuition waivers are available for students who meet specific eligibility criteria established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. These waivers apply only to the state-supported portion of tuition and do not cover fees, materials, or courses that are not state supported, unless otherwise noted.
To qualify, a student must:
- Physically reside in Massachusetts for at least one year as of the start of the enrolled term and intend to remain in the state
- Be either a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, non-citizen eligible under federal Title IV rules, or have approved “High School Completer” status under the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law
- Not be in default on federal or state student loans or owe a refund on previous financial aid
- Enroll in at least three undergraduate credits per semester in a state-supported degree or certificate program
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress
Eligible categories include:
- Veteran: As defined in Massachusetts General Law Chapter 4, Section 7(43), including those who served in qualifying conflicts such as the Spanish War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, or the Persian Gulf. Also includes individuals who served at least 90 days in the U.S. Armed Forces, with at least one day in the theater of operations for Operation Restore Hope (Somalia), and who received an honorable discharge.
- Native American: As certified by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- Senior Citizen: Persons over the age of 60. Senior Citizen Waivers are not accepted until late registration, which begins one week before the start of class. Enrollment of at least 15 students in the class must be confirmed. Courses with 15 or fewer seats are not eligible for the waiver without approval from the instructor and division dean. Eligible senior citizens receive a waiver that covers all tuition and fees.
- Active-Duty Military: Members of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed and residing in Massachusetts.
- Clients of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission or the Commission for the Blind: As certified by the respective agency.
Waiver documentation must be submitted before the end of the semester and while the student is still enrolled. Waivers cannot be applied retroactively or after a student is no longer actively enrolled.
Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office before selecting courses to confirm waiver eligibility and ensure required documentation is submitted in time.
Commonwealth Employee Tuition Remission:
Employees of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may be eligible for tuition remission for state-supported undergraduate courses at Massasoit. The amount of the benefit may depend on the employee’s job classification, union affiliation, and whether the course is state supported.
Eligibility requirements and procedures are governed by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. Employees should contact their human resources office for specific guidance.
Tuition remission forms must be submitted at the time of registration.
Massasoit Community College Fee Assistance Grant (MCCFee): MCCFee is the college’s primary source of institutional financial aid. It supports access and affordability by addressing tuition, fees, and book costs that may still remain after federal and state aid is applied. The fund is designed to help students receive enough total assistance to cover the full cost of their direct educational expenses.
United Student Fund (USF): Created to assist Massasoit Community College students who encounter an unforeseen financial emergency or catastrophic event which would otherwise prevent a student from continuing their education at Massasoit. These funds are not intended to be used for routine expenses or as a consistent supplement to a student’s education funding sources. Requests must be urgent in nature. Thus, the fund cannot be awarded to cover tuition and fees, previous college debts, legal costs and fees and other expenses deemed by a review committee to be ineligible. Please visit the United Student Fund page for additional information on who is eligible and how to apply.
Massasoit Scholarships: A variety of merit-based and need-based scholarships are available to assist students with educational costs. Visit the Scholarships page for information and application deadlines.