Financing Your Future: A Guide to UMass Dartmouth Scholarships and Financial Aid

Investing in a UMass Dartmouth education is an investment in your future, and understanding the landscape of financial aid options is crucial. UMass Dartmouth offers a variety of avenues to finance your education, including grants, scholarships, and loans. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarships and financial aid opportunities available to undergraduate and graduate students at UMass Dartmouth.

Understanding the FAFSA and Priority Deadlines

The first step in exploring financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. This application is essential for receiving UMass Dartmouth need-based education loans and grants. By submitting your completed FAFSA, you may be eligible for a number of need-based grants or loans. While there is no absolute deadline to apply for financial aid at UMass Dartmouth, the university awards institutional funds on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students who file the FAFSA using the UMass Dartmouth school code (002210) by April 1 are given priority for all available funds. It is highly encouraged to file your FAFSA as early as possible for maximum aid eligibility. Keep in mind that many private and state programs use March 1 as the FAFSA deadline for applying, so it's important to check those specific requirements and deadlines.

Loan Opportunities

The main loan opportunities available through UMass Dartmouth are federal loan programs. Online and continuing education students must be enrolled in a degree or certificate program and be taking at least 6 credits per semester to be eligible for a private loan.

Scholarships for Online Students

UMass Dartmouth recognizes the growing need for accessible online education and offers several scholarship opportunities specifically for online students:

Online Degree Completion Program: This program was created by the Massachusetts Legislature to support economic growth and development by providing financial assistance to students completing their degrees online.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences Scholarships: The College of Nursing and Health Sciences has scholarships available for Nursing students in online programs.
Massachusetts Community College Tuition Credit: The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will award qualified Massachusetts community college graduates a tuition credit for online courses while completing an online bachelor’s degree. This program recognizes the outstanding achievements completed at the community college. Supported by the Department of Online and Continuing Education, this program will provide some financial relief while completing your degree.

External Educational Benefits

Your company or organization may offer educational benefits. Check with your employer to explore these opportunities.

Read also: Applying to UMass Amherst

UMass Dartmouth Scholarship Opportunities

UMass Dartmouth offers a wide array of scholarships supported by various donors, departments, and initiatives. These scholarships cater to diverse academic interests, backgrounds, and levels of study. Many scholarships require full-time enrollment (12+ day credits per semester for undergraduates, 9+ day credits per semester for graduates) unless otherwise specified.

General Scholarships

ACCOMPLISH Program: STEM majors who don’t have any unmet financial need can still apply and be admitted into the ACCOMPLISH program.
Honors Program Scholarship: To support a full-time student(s) enrolled in the Honors Program at the University. Preference is for a student(s) who is maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, demonstrates academic promise.
College of Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship: To provide scholarship support to full time matriculated undergraduate College of Visual and Performing Arts students.
Blue & Gold Scholarship: Several Blue & Gold Scholarships exist, supported by different donors.
William M. Bulger Scholarship: The University of Massachusetts (UMass) is offering five $10,000 scholarships to provide recognition of and financial assistance to five outstanding students. To be eligible for the William M. The scholarship is awarded for one year and is renewable for up to three years.
Grace K. Fey Scholarship: The University of Massachusetts (UMass) is offering $1,500 scholarships to provide recognition of and financial assistance to an outstanding student.
James J. Karam Scholarship: The James J. Karam Scholarship was established in 2013 by James J. Karam. Mr. Karam is President and founder of First Bristol Corporation, a N.E. Real Estate Development Company. Mr. Karam’s current and past professional and civic affiliations are extensive. He is on the Board of Directors of the largest community for profit health care system in New England, Steward Health Care System, and was formerly the Chair of the UMass Board of Trustees. Mr. Karam also serves on the Board of the Edward M. Incoming freshmen shall have a GPA of 3.25 from high school. Be a permanent resident of the South Coast of Massachusetts which includes the following towns: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport.
University Scholarship: The University of Massachusetts (UMass) is offering this scholarship to provide recognition of and financial assistance to an outstanding student. The scholarships will be awarded to a sophomore, junior, or senior level student.
General Scholarship for Students Nearing Graduation: Support for students nearing graduation. Needed to graduate. Secure enough aid to make it through the entirety of their collegiate programs. Be a resident of Massachusetts.
Scholarship for Students with High Academic Standing and Financial Need: To support a full time student with high academic standing and demonstrated financial need.

Scholarships by College/Major

Charlton College of Business Scholarships: A number of scholarships are specifically for students in the Charlton College of Business, often with requirements such as demonstrated financial need, a minimum GPA (often 3.0 or higher), and specific majors like Management, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Operation Management, or Management Information Systems.
College of Engineering Scholarships: Several scholarships are available for students in the College of Engineering.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences Scholarships: A number of scholarships are available for students in the College of Nursing, with some requiring recipients to be residents of SouthCoast, MA.
College of Visual and Performing Arts Scholarships: Scholarships are available for students in the College of Visual & Performing Arts, sometimes alternating between Fine Arts and Design.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Scholarships: To provide scholarship support to students with demonstrated financial need who are majoring in any one of the STEM majors.
Scholarship for Bioengineering Students: The purpose of the scholarship is to support bioengineering full-time undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need. Eligible applicants must have at least a 3.2 grade point average and have an established interest in a field of study with emerging bioengineering or biomedical careers nationally and regionally. Preference will be given to female bioengineering majors based on demonstrated financial need and merit.
Scholarship for Physics Students: To support full-time undergraduate students in good academic standing who demonstrate a gift for the study of physics.
Scholarship for Computer Science Majors: To support a full time student, in high academic standing with demonstrated financial need. The student will be a Computer Science major and must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Scholarship for Students Studying Textile Science, Textile Chemistry, or Textile Technology: To aid full-time matriculated graduate and undergraduate students in good academic standing enrolled in textile science, textile chemistry, or textile technology (Bioengineering).
Scholarship for Psychology Majors: To support a full time student, in good academic standing who is majoring in psychology, with a preference who has a minor in Women's Studies or Gerontology and who plans to attend graduate school or further their training in one of these fields.
Scholarship for Students in Master’s Professional Writing and Communications graduate program: The purpose of the scholarship will be to support a student in the Master’s Professional Writing and Communications graduate program. Recipient must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher and a minimum of 12 completed credits.
SMAST majors award: SMAST majors award on even years (24/25, 26/27.
Scholarship for Students Pursuing a Degree in Math, Science, Engineering, Nursing or Med. Lab: The New Bedford resident shall be pursuing a degree in Math, Science, Engineering, Nursing or Med. Lab.

Scholarships Based on Background/Location

Scholarship for Students from Socio-economically Disadvantaged Backgrounds: To support full-time students in the Charlton College of Business who have socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Preference will be given to a sophomore with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher.
First Generation College Student Scholarship: To support full-time Undergraduate students who are the first in their family to attend college.
Scholarship for Students of Italian Descent: To provide scholarship support to full time undergraduate students in good academic standing of Italian descent; preference is given to residents of New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Acushnet.
Scholarship for Residents of the Greater New Bedford Community: To support full-time students (Graduate / Undergraduate) in good academic standing who are residents of the greater New Bedford community.
Scholarship for Graduates of New Bedford High School or Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School: The purpose of the scholarship will be to support a full time undergraduate student with demonstrated financial need and academic achievement, who graduated from New Bedford High School or Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School.
Scholarship for Students Graduating from High School in Lynn or Swampscott, MA: To provide scholarship support to a full-time undergraduate student who graduated from any public or private High School in Lynn or Swampscott, MA. Preference will be given to St. Mary's HS in Lynn, MA or a transfer student from North Shore Community College.
Scholarship for Residents of SouthCoast, MA studying Nursing: Recipients must be residents of SouthCoast, MA.
Scholarship for Students from the South Coast of Massachusetts: Be a permanent resident of the South Coast of Massachusetts which includes the following towns: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport.

Scholarships Based on Activities/Achievements

Scholarship for Students Actively Involved in Public Service: To provide scholarship support to full-time undergraduate students who have completed at least 24-credits, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and actively involved in significant public service at UMD or in their hometowns.
Scholarship for Students with Successful Entrepreneurial Activities: The purpose of the Fund will be to award scholarships to full time students in recognition of successful entrepreneurial activities. These students will receive scholarships based on their placement in the competition.
Scholarship for Students Who Played a Varsity Sport in High School: To support a full-time student undergraduate in the Honors Program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 and substantial financial need, Student must have played a varsity sport in High School.
AmeriCorps Schools of National Service: The AmeriCorps Schools of National Service initiative recognizes that individuals who serve in AmeriCorps bring tremendous value to the higher education or other post-secondary experience that benefit the institution, other students, and their community.

Other Scholarships

Study Abroad Scholarship: To provide support a sophomore, junior or senior who will Study Abroad in Hessen, Germany with demonstrated financial need. Preference will be given to students with a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA.
MacLean Campus Center Scholarship: To support the MacLean Campus Center and provide scholarships to full-time undergraduates, including freshmen or transfer students.
Scholarship for Employees or Relatives of Employees of the R.E. Matthews Company: Provides scholarship support to employees or relatives of employees of the R.E. In the event that there is not an employee or relative of an employee of R.E. Matthews Company who qualifies, the scholarship will be awarded to a student with demonstrated financial need.
Claire T. Carney Memorial Scholarship: The purpose of this scholarship is to support two full-time Undergraduate students with $1,000 each who have demonstrated financial need. One scholarship will be for a student who is working in the Claire T. Carney Library.
Scholarship for College Now/START program students: To support students with demonstrated financial need. Preference is for full-time rising sophomores, juniors or seniors enrolled in the College Now/START programs with 2.7 GPA or higher.

Named Scholarships

Many scholarships are named after individuals or families who have made significant contributions to UMass Dartmouth. These scholarships often have specific criteria and reflect the values of the donor. Examples include:

Anderson, William T.
Andreassen, Alexander T & Jan K.
Arts & Science English Dept. Brian T. Asselin, Dr.
Babbitt, John I.
Baker II, Charles D.
Baker, Jenni B. Clyde & Barbara J.
Barreira, Francelina S. and Manuel S.
Bernstein, Sarah C.
Biassou, Suze M.
Bolinder, William H. and English, Heather J.
Buckley, James M. Sr.
Bush, John E.
Campbell, Professor Allan L. Jeanne C.
Canto, Frances A. Jeanne F.
Carvalho, A. J.
Charlton, Earle P. Earl P.
Cleare, Julie A.
Cook, Ben L.
Cory, Professor Lester W. Les W.
Crapo, Henry H.
Curry, Raymond F.
Curry, Thomas J. Family and Friends of Thomas J.
Cygan, Henry F. Family and Friends of Henry F.
DeOliveira, Drs. Daniel B and Anabell C.
Dickman, Roger J.
Dickman, Scott J.
Donabella-Pedlow, Dr.
Dubois, W. E. James A.
Dupre, Professor Edmund J.
Faulkner, Scott C.
Fey, Grace K.
Fifield Charles W.
Fifield Jr. Charles W.
Fontaine, Irene V.
Fontaine, Eleanora S.
Freeman, John A.
Frizzell, Jesse B.
Gammons, Kenneth G. Kenneth T. and Mildred S.
Gould, Jack M.
Habicht, Louise A.
Hansberry, John W. Family and Friends of John W.
Horvitz, Ida and Morris Jr.
Houde, Armand E. '82 and Madeleine C.
Houth, Joseph W.
Howard, Dr. W.
Howard, Marie M.
Jenkins, Lillian T.
Johnson, Everett S.
Karam, Robert S.
Lameire, Ronald J.
Lebow, Frederick S.
Lincoln, Grace & Henry C.
MacFarlane Jr., Jean F.
Maclean, William Q. and Margaret E.
Macy, Matthew J. Family and Friends of Matthew J.
Medeiros, Thomas M.
Melanson, Philip H.
Melendes, Robert A.
Meredith, Family of Agnes T.
Mulvey, Dr. Thomas M.
Murphy, John M. and Julie T.
Nee, Dr. James M.
Neumann, Gerhard & Chang, C. L.
Nolan, Ryan P.
O'Brien, Francis X.
Oliveira, Arlene M.
Panos, Margaret M.
Parker, Rev. Richard G. Family and Friends of Rev. Richard G.
Payton, Karen L.
Pereira, John M.
Poirier, Family and Friends of Dr.
Rheault, Regina B.
Robinson, Professor Allan R. Allan R.
Russell, Professor Emeritas Gail E.
Ryan, Edward J.
Scarpitti, Nicholas L. & Ada A.
Simeone, Professor Louis S. J.

Scholarships for Graduate Students

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth has several financial programs to assist graduate students with the cost of advanced studies. These programs apply to degree-seeking, matriculated students only.

External Funding Support: Graduate students at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth who are enrolled in degree programs and are directly supported by a national funding agency (such as the Fulbright Scholar Program or the National Science Foundation) or research funds from another academic institution are usually eligible for a tuition waiver and an adjustment of the curriculum support fee to the in-state level; however, adjustments vary dependent upon the award and students who have secured external support are encouraged to contact the Associate Provost for Graduate Studies to confirm the waiver benefits they would receive if admitted.
Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships: The Distinguished Doctoral Fellows annually receive a $24,000 stipend plus full tuition and Curriculum Support Fee waivers. Their support is guaranteed for 4 years post-bachelors or three years post-master´s degree (subject to enrolling full-time, maintaining a 3.5 GPA, and making satisfactory progress).
First Year Doctoral Fellowships: The First Year Doctoral Fellows receive one year of support that includes a stipend of $16,000 plus a full tuition and Curriculum Support Fee waiver. Like the Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships, these will be awarded only to strong applicants who enroll full-time, maintain a 3.5 GPA, and make satisfactory progress.
School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST) Graduate Research Assistantships: The School for Marine Science & Technology also offers graduate research assistantships and invites applications from qualified students to our master's and doctoral programs to work on research projects.

How to Apply for Scholarships

To be considered for most scholarships, you must complete the scholarship application process. Specific requirements may include essays, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and other supporting documents. Deadlines vary, with most scholarships having deadlines between March 1 and August 1. It's crucial to pay close attention to the eligibility requirements and deadlines for each scholarship.

Tips for Scholarship Applications

Search Strategically: Use the search scholarships option to review scholarships, eligibility requirements, and deadlines. Use the category search filter button to find scholarships you’re eligible for based on factors including your college and year of graduation. New students entering UMassD this fall: Use the entering freshman and entering transfer filters to find scholarships specifically for incoming first-year and transfer students.
Focus Your Efforts: Don’t spend time applying for scholarships for which you don’t qualify. All scholarships have specific criteria listed in their descriptions.
Apply Early: Priority consideration will be provided to those who complete the application before 15 March 2025. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. There is no guarantee that spaces will be available by or after the priority deadline.

Scholarship Awarding Timeline

UMass Dartmouth begins awarding scholarships during the summer semester and continues throughout the academic year.

Read also: UMass Amherst Success Stories

Scholarships NOT Available

At this time, we do not have any scholarships for PhD, Master's, and professional degree seeking students.

tags: #umass #dartmouth #scholarships #and #financial #aid