MASSGrant 2026-27: Up to $2,590, MASSGrant Plus Rules

By Grantsights14 min readUpdated Oct 28, 20266 official sourcesHow we checkCorrections

Quick Answer: MASSGrant is Massachusetts's need-based grant, run by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) (opens in a new tab) at the Department of Higher Education.

Full answer and how we checked it

For 2026-27 it pays $500 to $2,590 a year to full-time students who are Pell-eligible, based on your Student Aid Index (SAI) and school type. MASSGrant Plus goes further at UMass and the state universities: it pays the tuition and fees left after other grants for Pell-eligible students, plus up to $1,200 for books. Community college tuition and fees are covered for most residents through the state's free community college program. You apply with the free FAFSA, or the MASFA if you can't file the FAFSA. StudentAid.gov lists May 1, 2027 as Massachusetts's priority date for 2027-28.

This guide is for: Massachusetts high school seniors, community college and state university students, UMass students from low- and middle-income families, adults going back to school, and students who file the MASFA instead of the FAFSA.

Data note: Grantsights checked OSFA's MASSGrant, MASSGrant Award Terms and Conditions, MASSGrant Plus, Free Community College and Important Dates pages; the Board of Higher Education's 2026-27 MASSGrant, MASSGrant Plus and Free Community College guidelines (effective August 1, 2026); OSFA's final 2026-27, 2025-26 and 2024-25 MASSGrant payment schedules; the 2025-26 MASSGrant Plus Expansion guidelines; OSFA Action Letters 1 and 2 for 2025-26; the Department of Higher Education's May 14, 2025 MassEducate report to the Legislature; the FY2026 and FY2027 state budget line items; and StudentAid.gov's state deadline list, all on October 28, 2026. Pell dollars are USAspending.gov FY2025 obligations (October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025) for Assistance Listing 84.063, divided by Census Bureau July 1, 2025 population estimates. OSFA doesn't publish MASSGrant recipient counts on its program pages, so this guide uses budget and program data instead.

Last updated: October 28, 2026, when amounts, rules and deadlines were checked against OSFA and the Board of Higher Education.

In this guide (10 sections)

MASSGrant Award Amounts for 2026-27
Who Qualifies for MASSGrant
MASSGrant Plus and MASSGrant Plus Expansion
Free Community College: MassEducate and MassReconnect
How to Apply: FAFSA or MASFA, and Which Deadline
Pell and State Aid in Massachusetts
What OSFA's Website Doesn't Tell You About MASSGrant
MASSGrant Scams and Red Flags
FAQ: Common MASSGrant Questions
Sources

Honest framing first: MASSGrant is real money you don't repay, but the base grant is small and has gone down: the top award fell from $3,000 in 2024-25 to $2,590 in 2026-27. The bigger Massachusetts programs are MASSGrant Plus and free community college, which cover tuition and fees at public colleges. All of them start with the same free form. No one can sell you a better shot at them.

Massachusetts has several overlapping state grants, and their names cause most of the confusion. MASSGrant is a fixed-amount grant usable at private and public colleges. MASSGrant Plus is a tuition-and-fees guarantee at public four-year colleges. MASSGrant Plus Expansion is a half-tuition version for students just above Pell. MassEducate and MassReconnect make community college free. You don't apply for any of them separately. This guide walks through each with the current numbers.

If you haven't filed yet, start with the FAFSA application guide. The federal grant that decides MASSGrant eligibility is explained in the Pell Grant guide. New York students should read the TAP grant guide instead.

MASSGrant Award Amounts for 2026-27

The 2026-27 MASSGrant pays $500 to $2,590 a year, according to OSFA's final 2026-27 MASSGrant payment schedule (opens in a new tab), dated August 2026. Your amount depends on your SAI and your school type:

Student Aid Index (2026-27)	Mass private, UMass, MA state university	MA community college	Mass nursing school	Mass proprietary or voc/tech	Out of state
-1,500 to 500	$2,590	$1,790	$1,300	$1,100	$500
501 to 3,000	$2,200	$1,600	$1,100	$1,000	$500
3,001 to 7,500	$1,400	$1,000	$800	$800	$500
7,501 to 14,790	$500	$500	$500	$500	$500
14,791 or more	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Source: OSFA, Final 2026-2027 MASSGrant Payment Schedule. "Out of state" means approved colleges in Vermont, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, which have reciprocity agreements with Massachusetts.

What changed from earlier years

The lowest-SAI award fell two years in a row. Grantsights compared the 2026-27 schedule with OSFA's final 2025-26 schedule (opens in a new tab) and the final 2024-25 schedule (opens in a new tab):

Award for the lowest SAI band	2024-25	2025-26	2026-27
Mass private, UMass or state university	$3,000	$2,800	$2,590
MA community college	$1,900	$1,900	$1,790
SAI 501 to 3,000, four-year college	$2,200	$2,200	$2,200
SAI 3,001 to 7,500, four-year college	$1,400	$1,400	$1,400

Grantsights analysis: the top award is down $410 (13.7%) since 2024-25. The middle bands haven't moved. Meanwhile, the state's scholarship line item, which funds MASSGrant, MASSGrant Plus, Gilbert Grants and other programs, grew slightly: the FY2027 budget (opens in a new tab) appropriates $177,188,311 to line 7070-0065, up from $175,788,311 in FY2026. The FY2027 budget language requires MASSGrant and MASSGrant Plus funding of at least the FY2026 level.

OSFA's award terms add two limits: MASSGrant can't exceed your financial need when combined with other aid at your school, and if you change schools, OSFA recalculates the award for the new school type.

Who Qualifies for MASSGrant

To get a MASSGrant in 2026-27, you must meet every rule in the Board of Higher Education's 2026-27 MASSGrant guidelines (opens in a new tab), effective August 1, 2026:

Rule	2026-27 requirement
Residency	Physically live in Massachusetts for at least one year before the term, with intent to stay
Status	U.S. citizen, permanent resident or Title IV-eligible noncitizen, or approved status under the 2023 tuition equity law
Financial need	Pell-eligible if you file the FAFSA; if you file the MASFA, an SAI of 14,790 or less
Enrollment	Full-time (12 credits) in a certificate, associate or bachelor's program
Prior degrees	No prior bachelor's degree; at a community college, no prior associate degree either
Other	Not in default on student loans or owing a state aid refund; meet Satisfactory Academic Progress; comply with verification

The MASFA limit nearly doubled. The 2025-26 MASSGrant guidelines (opens in a new tab) capped MASFA filers at an SAI of 7,500; the 2026-27 guidelines raise it to 14,790, which matches the new top of the payment schedule.

The prior-degree rule tightened too. In Action Letter 1 (opens in a new tab) (October 2025), the Department of Higher Education said that, because of rising MASSGrant demand, students who have earned an associate degree, or enough credits for one, won't be eligible for a MASSGrant starting in 2026-27. It pointed those students to MassEducate and MassReconnect, which cover tuition and fees.

How long MASSGrant lasts

Program	Maximum MASSGrant eligibility
Four-year bachelor's	8 semesters (4 years), full-time
Three-year bachelor's	6 semesters (3 years)
Associate degree	4 semesters (2 years)
Certificate	2 semesters

Every MASSGrant you've received counts against these limits. An extra year can be approved on written appeal for extenuating circumstances, according to the guidelines.

MASSGrant Plus and MASSGrant Plus Expansion

MASSGrant Plus is worth far more than MASSGrant for students at public universities. The 2026-27 MASSGrant Plus guidelines (opens in a new tab) describe it as the Commonwealth's tuition-free program for students at public four-year colleges who meet the Pell SAI criteria.

MASSGrant Plus rule (2026-27)	Requirement
Who	Pell-eligible students (MASFA filers: SAI in the Pell range)
Where	UMass Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth and Lowell, and the nine state universities, including MassArt, Mass Maritime and MCLA
Enrollment	Full-time or part-time, at least 6 credits a term
Tuition award	Tuition and fees minus all other non-loan aid
Allowance	Up to $1,200 a year at any public two- or four-year college, no more than $600 a semester
Length	Up to 10 semesters full-time or 14 part-time for a bachelor's

The allowance scales with credits: up to $1,200 a year for 12 or more credits, $900 for 9 to 11, and $600 for 6 to 8. In September 2025 the Board cut the 2025-26 allowance to $1,000 to match the FY2026 budget, then restored it to $1,200 on November 25, 2025, retroactive for the whole year, according to the guidelines and Action Letter 2 (opens in a new tab).

OSFA's MASSGrant Plus page (opens in a new tab) translates the SAI rule into income: families making about $85,000 a year (adjusted gross income, family of four, not counting assets) get full tuition and fees covered, and families making about $85,000 to $100,000 can have tuition and fees cut by up to half of their out-of-pocket cost. That second tier is MASSGrant Plus Expansion.

MASSGrant Plus Expansion

The 2025-26 MASSGrant Plus Expansion guidelines, which OSFA still linked on October 28, 2026, cover students who aren't Pell-eligible but have an SAI of $15,000 or less. They must enroll full-time in a bachelor's program at a public four-year college. The award formula is half of what's left: (tuition and fees minus all other non-loan aid) times 50%. The guidelines also let colleges use Expansion money to cover Pell-eligible MASSGrant Plus students first. OSFA hadn't posted 2026-27 Expansion guidelines as of that date, so ask your aid office whether your college is still awarding it.

Free Community College: MassEducate and MassReconnect

Massachusetts made community college tuition and fees free for residents of any age and income, through MassReconnect (age 25 and older, launched fall 2023) and MassEducate (all ages, launched fall 2024). For 2026-27, the Board issued one set of Free Community College guidelines (opens in a new tab) covering both.

Free community college rule (2026-27)	Requirement
Where	The 15 public community colleges
Enrollment	At least 6 credits a term in a certificate or associate program
Prior degrees	No bachelor's degree; one additional associate degree allowed
Tuition award	Tuition and fees minus all federal and state grant aid
Allowance	Up to $1,200 a year for Pell-eligible students or those with an SAI of $20,000 or less ($600 a semester cap)
Second allowance	Up to $1,200 more through MASSGrant Plus, if funds allow
Length	Up to 6 semesters full-time or 10 part-time for an associate degree
EMT and paramedic courses	Covered for up to 2 semesters, without the 6-credit or prior-degree rules

OSFA's Free Community College page (opens in a new tab) still describes the allowances by income: up to $85,000 a year gets the $1,200 books allowance plus a $1,200 allowance for other expenses; $85,000 to $100,000 gets the books allowance; over $100,000 gets free tuition and fees only. The 2026-27 guidelines use the SAI test above, so your aid office's numbers govern.

The state's budget for this has grown. Line item 1596-2501, Free Community College, is $137,048,000 in the FY2027 budget (opens in a new tab), up from $96,000,000 in FY2026 and $93,500,000 in FY2025.

According to the Department of Higher Education's MassEducate legislative report (opens in a new tab) of May 14, 2025, 11,506 students received a MassEducate grant in fall 2024, the program's first term, and the state allocated an initial $33,199,608 to the colleges for that fall. Community colleges enrolled 35,505 students under 25 that fall, up 6.6% from fall 2023. The report also notes a point families miss: many students find Pell and other aid already cover their tuition, so they're "free" without ever receiving a MassEducate grant.

How to Apply: FAFSA or MASFA, and Which Deadline

There's no MASSGrant application. You file one of two free forms and list your Massachusetts colleges.

The FAFSA at StudentAid.gov, if you're a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen. It also decides your Pell Grant, which MASSGrant and MASSGrant Plus require.
The MASFA (Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid), if you can't file the FAFSA, including students with approved status under the state's tuition equity law. OSFA's Important Dates page (opens in a new tab) shows the 2026-27 MASFA opened November 24, 2025. It opens state aid only, not federal aid.

Award year	Deadline	Source
2026-27 MASSGrant	FAFSA or MASFA by June 30, 2026 (passed)	OSFA Important Dates; FY2027 budget, line 7070-0065
2027-28 FAFSA priority date for Massachusetts	May 1, 2027	StudentAid.gov
2027-28 MASSGrant	Not posted by OSFA as of October 28, 2026	OSFA Important Dates

The two dates come from different places. StudentAid.gov's deadline list (opens in a new tab) shows May 1 for Massachusetts in both 2026-27 and 2027-28, "for priority consideration." The MASSGrant deadline itself is set in the state budget each year, and the FY2026 and FY2027 budgets both set it at June 30. Colleges can also set their own priority dates for MASSGrant Plus and campus aid, which come from fixed allocations. Filing by May 1, 2027, or your college's earlier date, covers every case. OSFA warns that it's often unable to grant extensions.

After you file, OSFA emails a notice of MASSGrant eligibility, and you can track and transfer your award in the MASSAid student portal. The FAFSA deadlines by state guide compares Massachusetts with other states.

Pell and State Aid in Massachusetts

Federal Pell is the base everything else builds on. According to USAspending.gov FY2025 data, Massachusetts colleges received $643.6 million in Pell obligations under Assistance Listing 84.063, about $90 per resident using Census Bureau July 1, 2025 estimates, below the national figure of about $114 (USAspending.gov award search (opens in a new tab)). Grantsights analysis ranks Massachusetts 19th among the states in Pell dollars and 33rd per resident.

The state's own programs add to it. The FY2027 budget's $177.2 million scholarship line and $137.0 million free community college line together come to about $44 per resident, in Grantsights analysis of those two line items. The 2026-27 maximum Pell Grant is $7,395, and a Pell-eligible student at a state university can get Pell, MASSGrant and MASSGrant Plus together, with MASSGrant Plus filling whatever tuition and fees remain.

Program, 2026-27	Who it's for	What it pays
Federal Pell Grant	Pell-eligible undergraduates anywhere	Up to $7,395
MASSGrant	Pell-eligible, full-time, any approved school	$500 to $2,590
MASSGrant Plus	Pell-eligible, public four-year	Remaining tuition and fees, plus up to $1,200
MASSGrant Plus Expansion (2025-26 rules)	SAI up to $15,000, not Pell-eligible	Half of remaining tuition and fees
Free community college	Any resident without a bachelor's	Remaining tuition and fees, plus allowance if eligible

What OSFA's Website Doesn't Tell You About MASSGrant

OSFA's pages list the rules. Read with the payment schedules and budget, 6 points matter to students.

1. MASSGrant is shrinking while the free programs grow. The top award is down 13.7% in two years. The state's money and attention have moved to MASSGrant Plus and free community college, which guarantee tuition and fees at public colleges.

2. At a private college, MASSGrant is the main state grant you'll see. MASSGrant Plus and free community college only work at public colleges. A Pell-eligible student at a private Massachusetts college gets at most $2,590 from MASSGrant. The same budget line sets aside at least $22 million in FY2027 for Gilbert Grants, so ask a private college's aid office whether you'd get one.

3. Part-time students miss out on MASSGrant itself. MASSGrant requires 12 credits. MASSGrant Plus and free community college start at 6, so working students should take at least 6 credits a term.

4. The income figures on OSFA's pages are estimates. The $85,000 and $100,000 numbers are rough translations for a family of four and ignore assets. The real test for MASSGrant Plus is your SAI and Pell eligibility, not a dollar income cutoff.

5. A prior associate degree now blocks MASSGrant. Starting in 2026-27, community college students with an associate degree, or enough credits for one, can't get a MASSGrant. Free community college still covers one more associate degree.

6. Underestimating your college's own deadline is a common mistake. The state deadline was June 30, but MASSGrant Plus and Expansion money is allocated to each campus. A student who files in June may find the campus has already committed its allocation.

Take one applicant in Worcester: a full-time student at Worcester State with an SAI of 0. For 2026-27 she gets the maximum Pell of $7,395, a $2,590 MASSGrant, and MASSGrant Plus for any tuition and fees still unpaid, plus up to a $1,200 allowance. A classmate with an SAI of 16,000 is above the 14,790 MASSGrant ceiling and above the $15,000 Expansion limit in the 2025-26 rules, so her grant aid at the same school would come mostly from the college itself.

MASSGrant Scams and Red Flags

MASSGrant scams sell what's free. The FTC's scholarship and financial aid scams page (opens in a new tab) says the FAFSA is always free, only you and your family should fill it out, and you should never share your FSA ID. The MASFA is free too. Red flags for Massachusetts students:

A fee to "apply for MASSGrant" or "enroll in free community college." There's no separate application. The FAFSA or MASFA, plus college admission, is the whole process.
A promise of a specific grant. Your award comes from your SAI, the payment schedule and your college's allocation. Nobody outside the process can promise an amount.
A request for your FSA ID or MASSAid login. No legitimate helper needs it.

Free help comes from OSFA at (617) 391-6070, your college's financial aid office, and the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) and MassEdCo, which OSFA links on its pages.

Grantsights' free eligibility checker doesn't award MASSGrants or file applications. If you pick "Student" or "Individual > Personal financial help," it lists the official routes: StudentAid.gov, the USA.gov benefit finder, rental help, help with bills, food help, and the 211 line. For other Massachusetts help see the Massachusetts grants guide; for federal and private aid, grants for students; for parents in school, grants for single mothers; and for what isn't real, how to apply for grants as an individual.

FAQ: Common MASSGrant Questions

How much is the MASSGrant for 2026-27?

$500 to $2,590 a year, set by your SAI and school type. The community college maximum is $1,790.

Who qualifies for MASSGrant?

Massachusetts residents of at least one year who are Pell-eligible (or have a MASFA SAI of 14,790 or less), enrolled full-time, without a prior bachelor's degree.

What is MASSGrant Plus?

A last-dollar award covering remaining tuition and fees at UMass and the state universities for Pell-eligible students, plus up to $1,200 for books and other costs.

What is MASSGrant Plus Expansion?

Half of remaining tuition and fees at public four-year colleges for full-time students who aren't Pell-eligible but have an SAI of $15,000 or less, under the 2025-26 rules.

Is community college free in Massachusetts?

Tuition and fees are, for residents without a bachelor's degree taking at least 6 credits. Allowances depend on Pell eligibility or an SAI of $20,000 or less.

What is the MASSGrant deadline?

It was June 30, 2026 for 2026-27. For 2027-28, file by StudentAid.gov's May 1, 2027 priority date.

Do I have to pay back MASSGrant?

No, unless it was paid because of wrong information or you withdraw. Applying is free.

Sources

Last updated October 28, 2026. Published by Grantsights from public sources. See our editorial policy, how we build and check guides, corrections and how we make money.

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