Massachusetts Gilbert Matching Student Grant
The Gilbert Matching Student Grant directs state funds to participating independent colleges and nursing schools in Massachusetts to help undergraduate students with financial need. “Matching” matters: funding flows through the institution rather than as an identical award to every student; the school determines individual eligibility and must follow state rules. It differs from MASSGrant, which serves a different set of institutions. OSFA’s 2026–27 materials require Massachu
About Massachusetts Gilbert Matching Student Grant
The Gilbert Matching Student Grant directs state funds to participating independent colleges and nursing schools in Massachusetts to help undergraduate students with financial need. “Matching” matters: funding flows through the institution rather than as an identical award to every student; the school determines individual eligibility and must follow state rules. It differs from MASSGrant, which serves a different set of institutions.
OSFA’s 2026–27 materials require Massachusetts residency, enrollment at a participating institution, FAFSA or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) when applicable, demonstrated need, satisfactory progress, and no prior bachelor’s degree. The institution must have an active participation agreement. Current eligibility materials specify full-time undergraduate enrollment of at least 12 credits, though the school should confirm how that rule applies to the specific program.
There is no separate statewide application with a guaranteed amount. File FAFSA or MASFA, list the school, and contact its financial-aid office to ask whether it has Gilbert funds, which income documents it needs, and its deadline. Dates can appear in the student portal and differ by campus; do not automatically apply the MASSGrant deadline to Gilbert. Ask for the grant share, any institutional match, and the net balance after Pell or other awards.
Who it serves and what it can cover: The Gilbert Matching Student Grant directs state funds to participating independent colleges and nursing schools in Massachusetts to help undergraduate students with financial need. “Matching” matters: funding flows through the institution rather than as an identical award to every student; the school determines individual eligibility and must follow state rules. It differs from MASSGrant, which serves a different set of institutions. OSFA’s 2026–27 materials require Massachusetts residency, enrollment at a participating institution, FAFSA or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) when applicable, demonstrated need, satisfactory progress, and no prior bachelor’s degree. The institution must have an active participation agreement. Current eligibility materials specify full-time undergraduate enrollment of at least 12 credits, though the school should confirm how that rule applies to the specific program.
How to apply or get help: There is no separate statewide application with a guaranteed amount. File FAFSA or MASFA, list the school, and contact its financial-aid office to ask whether it has Gilbert funds, which income documents it needs, and its deadline. Dates can appear in the student portal and differ by campus; do not automatically apply the MASSGrant deadline to Gilbert. Ask for the grant share, any institutional match, and the net balance after Pell or other awards. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
College scholarship and financial-aid program