MASSGrant — Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance

MASSGrant is Massachusetts need-based state aid for undergraduate students enrolled full time at an approved institution. It may be used at public or independent colleges in Massachusetts and some institutions in Vermont, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., under reciprocity agreements. For 2026–27, OSFA requires at least 12 credits, no previously earned bachelor’s degree, satisfactory academic progress and financial need after other grants and scholarships are considered.

There is no single award amount for every student: the Student Aid Index (SAI), institution, tuition and available appropriations affect the calculation. Students eligible for the FAFSA file it; those unable to use it because of status should check whether they qualify for the state pathway and complete the MASFA. These are different applications: do not submit both for the same term unless OSFA instructs you to. The college and OSFA verify residency, program, credits, prior degree and financial documents.

The 2026–27 priority date for MASSGrant consideration was June 30, 2026 and has passed; OSFA keeps that year’s FAFSA/MASFA forms open through June 30, 2027, but a late filing does not guarantee that a state grant can still be awarded. The 2027–28 deadline must be confirmed on the dates page and in MASSAid, so do not reuse last year’s date or assume that an open FAFSA means the state deadline has been announced. If planning to start in fall 2027, file the 2027–28 FAFSA when available, keep the confirmation and monitor OSFA for the state deadline for that award year.

After applying, create or check MASSAid and read the complete notice. If the account says “ineligible,” the message should state the reason; OSFA says students can submit documents to correct residency or complete verification. Ask the college to confirm that enrollment, school, program and degree-level information match the state record. An award notice is not the refund or final balance: the college certifies the grant and applies it to the account under funding rules.

OSFA publishes student stories describing how state assistance eased financial pressure and helped recipients continue studying; those agency-selected testimonials are illustrative, not an individual promise. Student forums also show questions about citizenship, residency and missing documents; those are not representative experiences, and the right response is to inspect the file rather than infer eligibility from a comment. Contact OSFA at (617) 391-6070 or osfa@osfa.mass.edu, and ask the college for a written net-cost explanation and any amount not covered.