Massachusetts Community College Nursing Scholarship

The Behavioral Health Workforce Scholarship Program is funded subject to the availability of funds and appropriation from the Massachusetts Legislature. The behavioral health workforce is identified as a priority workforce area. Supporting individuals in the behavioral health pipeline throughout their education and career development is essential to increasing the pool of available behavioral health professionals working to serve the needs of the Commonwealth. The Behavioral Health Workforce Scholarship program will provide funds to Massachusetts public and private institutions of higher education (IHEs) to provide financial incentives for behavioral health students to complete graduate-level degree and graduate-level certificate programs and apply newly advanced skills to high need behavioral health settings in Massachusetts. 

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Behavioral Health Scholarship program, the student must:

1. Be enrolled in an eligible institution, as defined;

2. Physically reside in Massachusetts for at least one year, as of the start of the enrolled term, with an intent to remain in Massachusetts consistent with Board of Higher Education (BHE) policy;

3. Be a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations; or have an approved eligibility status designated by the BHE pursuant to the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law or otherwise;

4. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) as applicable for eligible students under the Massachusetts Tuition Equity Law annually;

5. Comply with financial aid verification requirements;

6. Not be in default on any federal or state student loans for attendance at any institution, or owe a refund for any previous state financial aid program;

7. Enroll, as a matriculated student, on a full-time or part-time basis (minimum of 6 credits, or the equivalent) in an eligible behavioral health program of study leading to a graduate level degree or certificate; and

8. Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to institution’s requirements and federal standards.

Scholarship Conditions and Recipient Responsibilities

Students will need to agree to the following terms and conditions via the online application:

1. Complete the scholarship application and sign a promissory note, annually, for continuation of scholarship funds;

2. Provide an official transcript at the conclusion of each academic year to confirm continued eligibility requirements for the program of study and satisfactory academic progress towards degree completion;

3. Sign a Terms and Conditions Agreement to obtain certification and/or licensure and commit to working in Massachusetts for at least six (6) months per academic semester of award under this program pursuant to the service commitment section below, and provided that failure to complete the required behavioral health work commitment will result in a repayment of funds as defined in said agreement;

4. For individuals already employed in an eligible behavioral health setting, remain employed at that setting or another eligible behavioral health setting, and for individuals not yet employed in an eligible behavioral health setting, become employed in an eligible behavioral health setting within six (6) months of completing an approved behavioral health graduate degree or graduate-level certificate;

5. Annually provide proof of employment to document fulfillment of the service obligation;

6. Acknowledge that this scholarship is considered repayment through service and in absence of fulfilling that commitment, the scholarship reverts to a loan that must be repaid by the scholarship recipient, per the terms of the promissory note; and

7. Acknowledge the set-forth repayment through service schedule, that six (6) months of work will forgive one semester of scholarship

Eligible Institutions

Accredited public and private higher education institutions located in the Commonwealth and authorized to grant degrees that offer eligible programs, listed below:

• American International College
• Anna Maria College
• Assumption University
• Bay Path University
• Berklee College of Music
• Boston College
• Boston Graduate School Of Psychoanalysis Inc
• Boston University
• Bridgewater State University
• Cambridge College
• College of Our Lady of the Elms
• Emmanuel College
• Fisher College
• Fitchburg State University
• Framingham State University
• Gordon College
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
• Harvard University
• Lesley University
• Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
• MCPHS University
• Merrimack College
• MGH Institute of Health Professions
• Northeastern University
• Regis College
• Salem State University
• Simmons University
• Smith College
• Springfield College
• Suffolk University
• Tufts University
• University Of Massachusetts-Amherst
• University Of Massachusetts-Boston
• University Of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
• University Of Massachusetts-Lowell
• Western New England University
• Westfield State University
• William James College
• Worcester State University

Or any other accredited public or private higher education institutions located and authorized to grant degrees in the Commonwealth that (1) offer eligible graduate-level programs, and (2) are attended by an eligible student that currently lives in one of the Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts Priority Geographies municipalities.

Eligible Programs

Approved behavioral health graduate degree or graduate-level certificate programs, inclusive of mental health and substance use disorder (SUD)/opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment programs, listed below:

• Master’s level Social Work
• Mental Health Counseling
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Marriage and Family Therapy/Counselings
• Rehabilitation Counseling
• Master’s level Psychology programs
• Psychoanalysis
• Master’s level Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing programs
• Master’s level Pastoral Counseling programs

Award Value

Pursuant to an interagency service agreement between the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Higher Education, the Board of Higher Education is authorized to award up to $12,500 for tuition, fees, and stipends for each academic year in which a student enrolls in and makes satisfactory academic progress in an eligible program, up to a maximum of $25,000 per recipient across two academic years.

How to Apply

1. Make sure you have completed and submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

• Note: Your 2025-26 FAFSA must indicate you are a permanent Massachusetts state resident in order for a copy to be sent to OSFA.
• Once submitted, it takes 3-5 days for your FAFSA to be received by our office. Be sure to complete this step early!

2. Login to or create a MASSAid Student Portal account if you do not already have one.

3. Complete the Behavioral Health Workforce Scholarship Program application in the MASSAid Student Portal system. The BHWS application will only appear in your MASSAid portal if the application is open and we have received your FAFSA. It will be located on the left-hand side of the page, once logged in.

The application for the 2025-2026 award year is now open and the deadline to apply is January 20, 2026. This application will only be applicable to fall 2025, spring 2026, and summer 2026 enrollment.