Massachusetts High Demand Scholarship Program
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
A scholarship for MA residents pursuing degrees in high-need fields, including Health Professions and STEM, at a Massachusetts college, worth up to $10,000 per year.
Who should apply
Massachusetts residents heading into or already in a health-professions or STEM program at a MA college who can maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Eligibility
MA residents (1+ year) in an eligible high-need field (STEM, Health Professions, Education, Social Work, and more) maintaining a 3.0+ college GPA, no prior bachelor's degree. FAFSA required.
What you get
- Up to $10,000/year at independent institutions, UMass, and state universities; up to $5,000/year at community colleges (full-time)
What the application involves
- FAFSA
- MASSAid Student Portal account and online application
- Unofficial transcript showing major and GPA (or enrollment documentation for new students)
Application tips
- Confirm your major falls within a designated high-need field before applying.
- New first-year students can apply but must keep a 3.0 GPA to retain the award.
- Create your MASSAid portal account early.
Good to know
Directly relevant to health/STEM-bound students. Amounts cited are for 2025–26; administered through the MASSAid Student Portal.
Not eligible for this one? These are open anywhere in the U.S.
Being in the wrong state rules out a lot of programs and almost none of the good ones. Here are three you can apply to from anywhere, soonest deadline first.
Apply anytime
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A $2,000 scholarship awarded every month with no essay and no account sign-up required. The form takes about two minutes and you can enter again each month.
Who can apply: Anywhere in the U.S. · grades 11–12 · college
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DoSomething Scholarships ("It Pays to Do Good")
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Scholarships earned by completing volunteer, social-change, or civic-action campaigns, no essay, GPA, or recommendations required, making them highly accessible to younger students.
Who can apply: Anywhere in the U.S. · grades 9–12
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National Medical Fellowships (NMF) Scholarships & Awards
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A long-standing program of need- and merit-based scholarships for students underrepresented in medicine and the health professions. Mostly for medical/graduate health students, a pipeline resource students grow into.
Who can apply: Anywhere in the U.S.
