Merit Aid Programs

Merit aid is designed to recognize students for significant academic and/or co-curricular achievement based on criteria established by the university. Merit aid exists to encourage and enable high ability students to attend Fitchburg State University, to benefit from our programs and services, and to contribute their talents and achievements to the university and community.

Eligibility Guidelines

• Separate scholarship applications are not required
• Scholarship funds are awarded to students based on the merits of their application and the award must be applied toward Fitchburg State University
• Meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee receipt of a scholarship
• Students must be applicants to a full-time, day program
• Massachusetts Department of Higher Education calculation guidelines are used to determine the re-calculated GPA
• The university will cease awarding merit scholarships when funding is no longer available

Please note: Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for some awards. Please carefully review the criteria sections of each award description.

• Paul E. Tsongas Scholarship
  Value: In-state tuition and fees for up to four years for freshmen and up to three years for transfers
  Criteria: 3.75 or higher re-calculated GPA in high school and Massachusetts resident. Transfer students who graduated from high school in the last three years may be considered. Completion of FAFSA required.
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment, with a 3.3 or higher GPA for freshmen and up to two additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment, with a 3.3 or higher GPA for transfers
• John and Abigail Adams (Tuition Waiver Scholarship)
  Value: In-state tuition, funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  Criteria: Identified as eligible by the Massachusetts Department of Education, Massachusetts resident, and have completed the FAFSA
  Renewal: Up to eight semesters of full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA; not to exceed billed in-state tuition
• Henry Frank Scholarship
  Value: $10,000 awarded for up to four years for freshmen and up to three years for transfers
  Criteria: Graduate of a public or parochial high school in Norwalk, CT. Selection is based on academic achievement
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA for freshmen and up to two additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA for transfers
• Henry Frank STEM Scholarship
  Value: This is a generous $2,000 scholarship which is awarded for up to four years for freshmen and up to three years for transfers
  Criteria: Resident of a town within 35 miles of Orange, MA and a prospective major in one of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degree programs. Based on academic achievement.
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA for freshmen and up to two additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA for transfers
• Falcon Scholarship
  Value: Scholarship $5,000 per year
  Criteria: Out-of-state applicants who demonstrate strong academic potential
  Students who qualify for the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP) are not eligible for this scholarship
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 2.5 or higher GPA for freshmen and up to two additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 2.5 or higher GPA for transfers
• Ying Gean and Sui King Yee Scholarship
  Value: This is a $750 scholarship which is awarded annually for up to four years for freshmen and up to three years for transfers
  Criteria: Asian American freshman or transfer undergraduate, based on financial need and/or merit and participation in extracurricular activities and/or community service
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA for freshmen and up to two additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA for transfers

• Fitchburg State Honors Scholarship
  Value: $2,000 annually for up to four years
  Criteria: MA Resident. Participation in the Honors Program. (Non-resident students can be considered for the Honors program but are not eligible for the scholarship if they have received a Falcon Scholarship or are NERP tuition eligible.) 
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment in the Honors Program with a 3.3 or higher GPA
• Presidential Scholarship
  Value: $1,500 annually for up to four years
  Criteria: MA Resident. 3.5 or higher re-calculated GPA in high school
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 3.2 or higher GPA (Dean’s list)
• Antonucci Family Scholarship
  Value: $1,000 for freshmen year ONLY
  Criteria: First generation college students from the North Central Massachusetts community who demonstrate financial need. Completion of the FAFSA is required.
  Renewal: One-time award for freshmen. 
• Ethel P. Mandrus Donahue ’41 Scholarship
  Value: $1,000 annually for up to four years
  Criteria: Prospective Special Education major with demonstrated financial need.
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment continuing in the Special Education program with a 3.0 or higher GPA
• Fitchburg Mutual Insurance Company – W. Bruce Adams Memorial Scholarship
  Value: Up to $500 for freshman year ONLY
  Criteria: Minimum re-calculated 3.0 or higher high school GPA; resident of Ashburnham, Ashby, Fitchburg, Leominster, Lunenburg or Westminster, Massachusetts
  Renewal: One-time only award for freshmen. Must achieve a 2.75 or higher GPA fall semester to retain scholarship for spring semester
• Stanley Koplik Certificate of Mastery Tuition Waiver
  Value: In-state tuition, funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  Criteria: Identified as eligible by the Massachusetts Department of Education, Massachusetts resident, and have completed the FAFSA
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 3.3 or higher GPA; not to exceed billed in-state tuition
• Fitchburg Freshmen Scholarship
  Value: $1,000 annually for up to four years
  Criteria: 3.0 or higher re-calculated GPA in high school 
  Renewal: Up to three contiguous years of full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA (Dean’s list)
• Jeanne M. Joyal ’53 Scholarship
  Value: By request of the donor, the specific dollar amount is not to be disclosed
  Criteria: Resident of Western Massachusetts and prospective Elementary Education major. Demonstrated record of extra-curricular and community activities
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous years of full-time enrollment in the Elementary Education program with a 3.0 or higher GPA
• Myra McGuirk-Bonitz ’14 and Arlene (Bonitz) Bentley ’52 Scholarship
  Value: $1,000 for freshman year ONLY
  Criteria: Resident of Worcester County, with preference given to Fitchburg and Leominster. Prospective Education major.
  Renewal: One-time only award for freshmen

• MassTransfer Tuition Waiver
  Value: A tuition waiver equal to 100% of the in-state tuition for up to four contiguous semesters
  Criteria: Graduate of the Massachusetts MassTransfer program with a 3.0 or higher college GPA at time of graduation
  Renewal: Up to three additional contiguous semesters of full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA
• Dean Scholarship
  Value: $1,000 annually for up to three years
  Criteria: 3.0 or higher college GPA, 15 or more transferable college credits, full-time student
  Renewal: Up to two additional contiguous years, full-time enrollment with a 3.0 or higher GPA (Dean’s list)

Please note: Criteria subject to change.