Grants & Credits

Grants and tuition credits are considered "gift aid" that do not need to be repaid. The following programs are available to students completing their first bachelor's degree.

Types of Available Grant Programs

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Massachusetts Grant Program
• Mass Part-Time Grant
• Department of Higher Education Tuition Credit
• Department of Higher Education Grant
• UMass Lowell Need Based Grant
• Merit Based Tuition Credits

Federal Pell Grant: 

• Federal grant administered by the U.S. Dept of Education
• Eligibility determined by demonstrated financial need
• For 2017-2018, awards range from $606 to $5920 depending on eligibility

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): 

• Federal grant administered by the University
• Eligibility determined by demonstrated financial need
• Awards range from $200 to $4000, depending on available funds and number of eligible applicants

Massachusetts Grant (MassGrant) Program: 

• State funded grant program administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Eligibility determined by demonstrated financial need
• FAFSA must be filed each year by May 1
• Must be enrolled Full time (12+ Credits)
• Must be a Legal Massachusetts state resident

Mass Part-Time Grant: 

• State funded grant program administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Eligibility determined by demonstrated financial need and available funds
• Must be enrolled in 6-11 undergraduate credits
• Must be a Legal Massachusetts resident

Department of Higher Education Tuition Credit (DHE Credit):

• State funded program administered by the University
• Eligibility is determined by demonstrated financial need
• Available to undergraduate students enrolled at least half time, priority given to full time students
• Must be a Legal resident of Massachusetts
• Applies to undergraduate day courses only
• Courses through the Division of Continuing Education (DOCE) are not covered by this program

Department of Higher Education Grant (DHE Grant): 

• State funded program administered by the University
• Eligibility is determined by demonstrated financial need
• Available to undergraduate students enrolled at least half time, priority given to full time students
• Must be a Legal resident of Massachusetts
• Applies to undergraduate day courses only
• Courses through the Division of Continuing Education (DOCE) are not covered by this program

UMass Lowell Need Based Grant: 

• Institutional grant administered by the University
• Eligibility is determined by demonstrated financial need
• Applies to undergraduate day courses only
• Courses through the Division of Continuing Education (DOCE) are not covered by this program

The Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance requires students to file a FAFSA for Merit-Based Tuition Credits. 

Merit-based tuition credits are for Massachusetts residents, and usually cover part of the tuition charge ($1,454 for 2016-2017). Tuition credits only cover day school tuition, DOCE courses are not covered. Freshman students may be eligible for the Valedictorian Tuition Credit, the John and Abigail Adams, or the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery.

Transfer students may also be eligible for the John and Abigail Adams or the Stanley Z. Koplik Certificate of Mastery Tuition Credit if they have attended a Massachusetts public institution prior to enrollment at UMass Lowell, and are transferring the credit without a break in college attendance. 

Massachusetts community college students may also be eligible for the Mass Advantage Plus Program (MAPP), which includes a credit towards in-state tuition.  FAFSA is not required for the MAPP.