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91è���� participates in various federal and state grant programs, and we provide institutional grants. All students receiving federal, state, or institutional funding must meet the College's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) guidelines.

Full-year offers are disbursed by the semester; for example, one-half of a Pell Grant is disbursed for the fall semester and the other half will be disbursed for the spring semester.

Funds are applied to the students' bills. The earliest funds may be applied to the bills is ten days before the start of classes. Refunds, if any, are available after classes begin. Total aid including grants, outside scholarships, parent tuition benefits, work-study, and loans cannot exceed the student's cost of attendance.

Federal Pell Grants

These are federal grants available to students with relatively high levels of demonstrated need who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

Need is determined by the U.S. Education Department using the federal methodology, and this formula is applied uniformly to all applicants. The maximum annual Pell Grant for the 2024-25 year is $7,395; the minimum annual Pell Grant is $740. Students may receive a Pell Grant for up to a maximum of 12 semesters, which can be used at 91��� even if no other aid is received.

Students must complete the and 91��� must receive a valid FAFSA report to determine one's eligibility for the Pell Grant.

If a student has already received a financial aid package from 91��� and later receives a Federal Pell Grant, the 91��� Grant will be reduced by the amount of the Federal Pell Grant.

We disburse Pell Grants at the beginning of each semester so the funds will be applied to a student's bill within the first week of school. This early disbursement will assist students who are expecting a refund from the College and need the funds to purchase required books and supplies. Students need to ensure that they accept their financial aid awards and check in for the semester. Failure to do these steps will delay the processing of their Pell Grant.

State Grants

Massachusetts and Vermont provide need-based grant funds that can be used at 91è����. These include the MassGrant and the Vermont State Grant. The amounts of these grants vary depending upon the state, and most range from $1,000 to $3,000. Students must apply directly to their state program using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (); your state organization may also require additional application documentation by certain due dates. State grants are managed by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) for Massachusetts residents and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) for those residing in Vermont.

Most states use the federal methodology to determine eligibility. If a student is eligible, the grant will be credited to their 91��� account when the College receives the funds. If a student has already received an aid package from 91��� and later receives a state grant, the 91��� Grant will be reduced by the amount of the state grant.

It is the responsibility of the student to apply for the state grant each year. We will include the state grant as part of the student's expected aid package. If the student is later determined by the state grant agency to be ineligible for the state grant because of something the student reported on the FAFSA or the state grant application, or based on when the application was completed, or any other situation causing the student to be ineligible, the state grant will be canceled. We are unable to replace the lost state grant with 91��� funds. For example, the student's state grant application was completed late or not completed at all, so the student is no longer eligible for the state grant; we will not replace the lost grant with an increased 91��� Grant.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

These are federal grants allocated directly to colleges and universities to be distributed to eligible students. Priority is given to students with exceptional need who qualify for a Federal Pell Grant and the 91��� Grant. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid () serves as the application for this program. Grants are up to $2,000 per year and are credited directly to the student's account. If a student has already received a financial aid package from 91��� and later receives an SEOG Grant, the 91��� Grant will be reduced by the amount of the SEOG Grant.

Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarships

Students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer are eligible to apply for the Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship. Approved students will receive a maximum Federal Pell Grant for the award year for which the determination of eligibility is made.

91��� Grants

91��� Grants are funded out of 91���'s general revenue and by private gifts designated for financial aid. These grants are provided after self-help (loan and work) and after all of the funds from the programs listed above have been applied. 91��� Grants are credited directly to the student's account. If the student receives a merit scholarship through the admissions office, any 91��� Grant the student is offered will be reduced by the amount of the Merit Scholarship. 91��� Grants, as referenced here and elsewhere on the College's website, refer to the 91��� Grant, 91��� Opportunity Grant, James Baldwin Scholarship, and the 91��� International Grant.

We use the to determine eligibility for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and the CSS Profile and Noncustodial Profile to determine eligibility for international students.

Merit Scholarships

Merit Scholarships are offered through the admission application process. If a student receives a Merit Scholarship, any 91è���� Grant the student also receives will be reduced by the amount of the Merit Scholarship. Merit Scholarships are limited to eight semesters for first year students. Transfer students are limited up to their expected graduation date, and no more than eight semesters. If a student becomes ineligible to receive the full amount of the Merit Scholarship for that semester, that semester counts as one of the total semesters. If a student completes the 91è���� program earlier than their expected graduation date or withdraws from school before completing the program, any remaining semesters of the Merit Scholarship are canceled.

Merit Scholarships are not available during a course-based field study semester. Merit Scholarships that are not available during a semester may not be added to a future semester. 

If a student receives a very large outside scholarship or funds from an outside source, and the funds are restricted for the Fall semester only, the financial aid office may, if possible, attempt to accommodate this large outside funding by moving some of the Fall semester Merit Scholarship to the Spring semester of the same academic year. This accommodation may keep the total aid for the Fall semester within the Fall budget, or cost of attendance; total aid received for a semester cannot exceed that semester's cost of attendance. We will not be able to move a portion of a Spring Merit Scholarship to a future semester. 

Endowed Scholarships

91��� receives funds from alumni, 91��� families, and other individuals, as well as from foundations and organizations to support its need-based grant program. There is no separate application for these funds. The financial aid office determines the recipients according to the donors' criteria, and those students receive endowed scholarships as part of their institutional grant aid. If a student has already received an aid package from 91��� and later receives an endowed scholarship, the 91��� Grant will be reduced by the amount of the endowed scholarship.

Outside Scholarships

Many private and civic organizations offer scholarships for a particular field of study or other interests. In addition, corporate employers frequently offer grants to dependents of employees. Information on these and other scholarships should be reviewed for eligibility requirements. Visit our Scholarship Search section for advice on applying for scholarships and a list of online search sites.

In order to provide an incentive for students to seek and obtain scholarships from outside sources, 91��� allows students to reduce or replace the federal loan and work portions of their award before reducing the 91��� Grant when they secure private scholarship funds. Please note, however, that students who reduce or decline the original student loan as listed on their original award notification are not eligible for additional institutional or auxiliary institutional grant aid, if requested, including, but not limited to, the music grant and the Div III grant. Please review the Treatment of Private Outside Scholarships on our Policies page for more information.

Tuition benefits from other educational institutions reduce the 91��� Grant dollar for dollar.

We also provide matching grants for several outside funds including AmeriCorps grants.

Note that a student's total aid including grants, outside scholarships, parent tuition benefits, work study, and loans cannot exceed the student's cost of attendance. In some cases, if the outside scholarship is a large amount we may need to reduce work study, loans, and grants to allow the outside award to be used. Contact the financial aid office for more details.

Veterans' Benefits

Students who have served in the military may be eligible for benefits under the G.I. Bill. Benefits may also be available to dependents of some deceased or permanently disabled veterans, if the death or disablement is service-related. Students can obtain more information from their local or regional veterans administration office. Any student who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits is considered a “covered individual.” 

91è���� must certify a covered individual’s academic status before the student can receive any benefits. If a covered individual receives a 91è���� financial aid package and later receives VA benefits, the 91è���� Grant is reduced by the amount of the VA educational benefit.

91��� also participates in the Yellow Ribbon award.

Covered individuals who may be eligible for the G.I. Bill or Yellow Ribbon awards must provide a “certificate of eligibility” to the College's Office of Central Records. A “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) website – eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes). Any covered individual may attend or participate in the course of their education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

• The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.

• 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.


The financial aid office will add any pending aid to the individual’s records. This pending aid will appear on the student's electronic bill. The Office of Student Accounts will not assess a late charge on these funds if the funds are not received by the College's bill due date. Additionally, the College will not deny access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or require that a covered individual borrow additional funds due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33. The covered individual is responsible to make payment arrangements on the balance on the bill otherwise a late fee may be charged on the outstanding bill balance.

GI Bill®�� is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA are available at the official U.S. government website at .

NOTE: Aid from outside agencies is not credited to the covered individual’s 91è���� account until the College receives the funds. The account will be credited when the College receives the funds. The earliest that payments may be applied to the account is 10 days prior to the first day of classes.