Financial Aid
Grant Programs
Federal Pell Grant Program
Available to undergraduate students without a bachelor's degree enrolled for six or more credits who demonstrate need.
Amounts vary from $976 - $5,350 a year
Academic Competitiveness Grant
Federal grant available to first and second year students enrolled full-time in a four-year degree program. Students must be Pell eligible and have completed a rigorous high school program of study as designated by their state. Second-year students must have a grade point average (G.P.A.) from their first year of at least 3.0.
Up to $750 for first year
Up to $1,300 for second year
Academic Recognition Scholarships
Available to incoming full-time, academically-talented undergraduate students. Selected by Admissions Office on the basis of G.P.A. and/or Standardized Test Scores. Renewable based on continued full-time enrollment with cumulative G.P.A of 3.0 or better.
Amounts vary from $2,000 to $3,000 a year.
National Smart Grant
Federal grant available to students in their third or fourth academic year of a four-year degree program; pursuing a major in mathematics, science (including physical, life, environmental and computer sciences), technology, engineering, or a critical foreign language, such as Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Russian. Students must have a grade point average (G.P.A) of at least 3.0.
Up to $4,000 a year
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Available to undergraduate students without a bachelor's degree enrolled for nine or more credits who demonstrate exceptional need.
Amounts vary from $200 - $1,800 a year.
Tuition Waiver/Mass Cash Grant
State grant or waiver available to undergraduate residents of Massachusetts without a bachelor's degree enrolled for six or more credits who demonstrate need. All or part of your tuition & fee charges may be waived or paid.
Massachusetts Grant Program (MASSGrant)
A State grant for a maximum of eight semesters. Available to Massachusetts residents who do not have an undergraduate degree. Full-time enrollment required. FAFSA filing deadline is May 1st.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Grant
Available for undergraduates enrolled for six or more credits who demonstrate need.
Amounts vary from $200 - $4,500 a year
Part-Time Grants
Available to part-time undergraduate residents of Massachusetts without a bachelor's degree enrolled for 6-11 credits who demonstrate need.
Awards vary from $200 - $500 a year
Paul E. Tsongas Scholarship
Availalbe to full-time Massachusetts residents in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class (or who have a recalculated G.P.A. of 3.75 or better) and SAT I totals of 1200. Renewable based on continued enrollment with a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.3 or better. Scholarships are awarded at the time of admissions.
Tuition & Fees
Student Employment Programs
Federal College Work Study
Part-time jobs for students enrolled for nine or more credits who demonstrate need. Bi-weekly paycheck received for hours worked. Wage begins at $8.00 per hour. All earnings are paid at straight time. Apply using the standard application procedures. Award cannot be applied to the semester invoice.
Awards vary from $1,000 - $2,000 a year
Campus Part-Time Employment
On-campus jobs funded by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts that are not based on financial aid eligibility. Apply at Career Services.
Job Location and Referral Service
Alternative employment options in the community. Apply at Career Services.
Loan Programs
Federal Perkins Loan Program
Long-term, low-interest (5%) loan. Available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled for six or more credits who demonstrate need. Apply using the standard application procedures. Repayment begins nine months after graduation or withdrawal.
Amounts from $200 to $3,000.
Federal Subsidized Stafford Student Loan Program
Long-term, low interest. Fixed interest of 4.5% for the 2010-2011 academic year. Available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled for six or more credits who demonstrate need. Repayment for students begins six months after graduation or withdrawal. Loan fees up to 1.5% will be deducted from all loan proceeds.
$3,500 1st year
$4,500 2nd year
$5,500 3rd-5th year
Up to $8,500 per year for graduate student.
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan Program
Long-term, low interest. Fixed interest of 6.8% for the 2010-2011 academic year. Available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled for six or more credits. Do not have to demonstrate financial need to qualify, however, you must apply using the financial aid application process. Interest payment charged to student while enrolled. Repayment begins six months after graduation or withdrawal. Loan fees up to 1.5% will be deducted from all loan proceeds.
Same as subsidized
Up to $12,000 per year for graduate students.
Beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year, students borrowing a Subsidized or Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan are now eligible to borrow an additional $2,000 under the Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Federal Plus Loan Program
Available to parents of dependent students. Fixed interest rate of 8.5% for the 2010-2011 academic year. Repayment begins 60 days after the final loan disbursement. Loan fees up to 4% will be deducted from all loan proceeds.
Parents may borrow up to the full cost of attendance less merit and need-based aid.
Stafford & Plus Loan Application Process
The following link (Simple Tuition) contains information concerning loan lenders, loan terms and borrower benefits for Stafford Loans and/or Parent Plus Loans. The lenders listed were chosen by MCLA based on the history of servicing they have provided to MCLA students.
Parents or Students wishing to choose a lender other than one listed on the above site are free to do so. MCLA's federal school code is 002187.
Entrance/Exit Loan Counseling
Students who borrow under the Federal Family Education Loan Program are required to complete counseling before receiving loan proceeds from their first loan and again shortly before graduating or otherwise leaving school.
You may select the appropriate counseling session by clicking on the graphic below. You will be asked to select Entrance Counseling or Exit Counseling. If you have recently applied for your first loan, click on "Entrance Counseling.". If you are about to graduate or otherwise leave school, click on "Exit Counseling". If you have any questions as you complete the counseling requirements, you may contact the financial aid office at (413 ) 413-5274, or click on the "E-mail a Question" button on the counseling pages.
Click below to continue your counseling session
Click here to complete your Entrance Counseling Session.
Click here to complete your Exit Counseling Session.
Massachusetts No Interest Loan Program
State No Interest Loan awarded to eligible Massachusetts residents who are enrolled in 12 or more credits. Repayment begins six months after graduation or withdrawal.
Amounts from $1,000 - $2,000
