Massachusetts Community College Nursing Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Program overview
The Behavioral Health Workforce Scholarship Program supports development of the Commonwealth’s behavioral health workforce and is funded only as appropriated by the Massachusetts Legislature. The program directs grants to Massachusetts public and private institutions of higher education so they can offer financial incentives to students enrolled in eligible graduate-degree and graduate-level certificate programs in behavioral health. The goal is to expand the number of qualified behavioral health professionals who will serve high-need settings across Massachusetts.

Who may apply (student eligibility)
To qualify for this scholarship, an applicant must meet all of the following:

- Be enrolled at an eligible Massachusetts institution of higher education (see Eligible Institutions).
- Have physically lived in Massachusetts for at least one year as of the start of the term in which they are enrolled, and intend to remain in Massachusetts in accordance with Board of Higher Education (BHE) policy.
- Be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, a non-citizen who is Title IV–eligible, or have an approved eligibility status recognized by the BHE under the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law (or as otherwise designated by the BHE).
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year, or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) where applicable for students eligible under the Tuition Equity Law.
- Complete any required financial aid verification.
- Not be in default on any federal or state student loan and not owe a refund from any previous state financial aid program.
- Be a matriculated student enrolled full- or part-time (minimum of six credits or the equivalent) in an approved behavioral health graduate-degree or graduate-level certificate program.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by the student’s institution and federal standards.

Scholarship terms and recipient responsibilities
Applicants must accept the following terms through the online application and continuing award processes:

- Complete the scholarship application and sign a promissory note each year to receive continued funding.
- Submit an official transcript at the end of each academic year to verify ongoing eligibility and SAP.
- Execute a Terms and Conditions Agreement committing to obtain necessary certification or licensure and to work in Massachusetts. Recipients must work in Massachusetts for at least six (6) months per academic semester of award; failure to meet the service commitment will convert scholarship funds to a repayable loan under the promissory note.
- If already employed in an eligible behavioral health setting, continue that employment (or move to another eligible setting). If not employed in an eligible setting at the time of award completion, obtain employment in an eligible behavioral health setting within six (6) months after finishing the approved graduate degree or certificate program.
- Provide proof of employment each year to document compliance with the service obligation.
- Acknowledge that the scholarship is forgiveness-through-service and that unmet service obligations will trigger repayment according to the promissory note. The repayment-by-service schedule provides that six (6) months of qualifying work forgiveness equals one semester of scholarship.

Eligible institutions
Accredited public and private institutions located in Massachusetts and authorized to grant degrees that offer eligible graduate-level behavioral health programs qualify. The following institutions are included (and other Massachusetts accredited degree-granting institutions that meet the program’s eligible-program and residency conditions may also participate):

- American International College
- Anna Maria College
- Assumption University
- Bay Path University
- Berklee College of Music
- Boston College
- Boston Graduate School Of Psychoanalysis Inc
- Boston University
- Bridgewater State University
- Cambridge College
- College of Our Lady of the Elms
- Emmanuel College
- Fisher College
- Fitchburg State University
- Framingham State University
- Gordon College
- Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
- Harvard University
- Lesley University
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- MCPHS University
- Merrimack College
- MGH Institute of Health Professions
- Northeastern University
- Regis College
- Salem State University
- Simmons University
- Smith College
- Springfield College
- Suffolk University
- Tufts University
- University of Massachusetts—Amherst
- University of Massachusetts—Boston
- University of Massachusetts—Dartmouth
- University of Massachusetts—Lowell
- Western New England University
- Westfield State University
- William James College
- Worcester State University

Additionally, institutions attended by eligible students who live in one of the Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts Priority Geographies municipalities are eligible if they offer approved graduate-level programs.

Approved programs (eligible fields of study)
Eligible programs include graduate-level degrees and graduate-level certificates in behavioral health fields, including programs focused on mental health and substance use disorder/opioid use disorder treatment. Examples include:

- Master’s-level Social Work
- Mental Health Counseling
- Substance Abuse Counseling
- Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- Master’s-level Psychology programs
- Psychoanalysis
- Master’s-level Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing programs
- Master’s-level Pastoral Counseling programs

Award amount
Under an interagency service agreement between the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Higher Education, the Board of Higher Education may award up to $12,500 per academic year toward tuition, fees, and stipends for each year a student is enrolled and making satisfactory academic progress in an eligible program. Awards may be made for up to two academic years, with a maximum total of $25,000 per recipient.

How to apply and important deadlines
1. Complete and submit the FAFSA. (If you are applying for the 2025–26 award year, your 2025–26 FAFSA must indicate that you are a permanent Massachusetts resident so a copy can be sent to the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA).)
- Note: Allow 3–5 days after submission for OSFA to receive your FAFSA; submit early.

2. Create or log in to a MASSAid Student Portal account.

3. Complete the Behavioral Health Workforce Scholarship Program application within the MASSAid Student Portal. The BHWS application will appear in your portal only when the application window is open and OSFA has received your FAFSA. Once available, it will be listed on the left-hand side of the portal page after login.

Application window for 2025–2026
The application for the 2025–2026 award year is open now. The deadline to apply is January 20, 2026. Awards made from this application cycle apply to enrollment in fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026 terms.

Funding note
All awards are subject to available funding and legislative appropriation.