John and Abigail Adams Scholarship

The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship provides a tuition waiver for up to eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university. The scholarship covers tuition only; fees and room and board are not included. The scholarship must be used within six years of a student's high school graduation. (New effective immediately)

Massachusetts public high school students become eligible for the scholarship when they:

• score at the Advanced and Proficient levels on grade 10 MCAS tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. (A student must earn a score of Advanced on the ELA or Mathematics test and a score of Proficient or higher on the second test); AND
• have combined scores from the MCAS ELA and Mathematics tests that place them in the top 25% of students in the graduating class in their district.

Scholarship eligibility is based on each student's first attempt at taking the grade 10 MCAS tests in ELA and Mathematics. In order to receive the scholarship, a student must be enrolled in a Massachusetts public high school in his or her senior year. Students who qualify for the scholarship will receive award letters and further information in the fall of their senior year.

In order to claim the Adams Scholarship, the student must be

• a permanent legal resident of Massachusetts for at least one year prior to entering college as a freshman;
• a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and
• a graduate of a Massachusetts public high school.

Students in charter schools and students who participate in school choice or METCO are eligible for the scholarship if they meet the eligibility requirements for either the school they attend or the district in which they reside.

In order to use the scholarship, a student must

• be accepted at a Massachusetts public college or university;
• complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
• send the Adams Scholarship award letter to the financial aid or bursars office at the college or university that he or she plans to attend; and
• enroll as a full-time student.

To continue receiving the Adams Scholarship, a student must

• continue to enroll full-time at a public higher education institution;
• maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 on all college work; and
• annually complete the FAFSA.

Eligible students who first enrolled in a private college or public university in another state may activate their Adams Scholarship upon transfer to a Massachusetts public college or university, provided they have previously maintained a cumulative 3.0 GPA. (New effective immediately)

Massachusetts State Colleges and Universities that Accept the Adams Scholarship