"I received a great education from MCLA that laid the groundwork for me to succeed at law school. I use the skills I learned at MCLA, especially in the area of research and writing, on a daily basis and still speak with many of my former professors. It is not every school where you can create such a lasting bond with the professors and community. The strong community bond found at MCLA was a factor in my husband (Scott Lord ’98) and my decision to attend MCLA and our desire to remain involved with MCLA after graduation."
Buffy D. Lord ’98 Attorney, Donovan & O’Connor, LLP
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 $400 - $4,800 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 $500 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 1.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Grant
Available for undergraduates enrolled for six or more credits who demonstrate need.
Amounts vary from $200 - $2,000 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 - $600 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 $7.50 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 crediits who demonstrate need. Apply using the standard application procedures. Repayment begins nine months after graduation or withdrawal.
Amounts from $200 to $2,000.
Federal Subsidized Stafford Student Loan Programs
Long-term, low interest. Fixed interest of 6.8% for the 2007-2008 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.
$3,500 1st year
$4,500 2nd year
$5,500 3rd-5th year
Up to $8,500 per year for graduate students
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan Programs
Long-term, low interest. Fixed interest of 6.8% for the 2007-2008 academic year. Available to undergraudate 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.
Same as subsidized
Up to $12,000 per year for graudate students.
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.
State sponsored credit based loan. Parents may borrow up to the full cost of attendance less merit and need-based aid.
$1,500 minimum
Federal Plus Loan Program
Available to parents of dependent students. Fixed interest rate of 8.5% for the 2007-2008 academic year. Repayment begins 60 days after the final loan disbursement. Parents may borrow up to the full cost of attendance less merit and need-based aid.
Alternative Loan Program
Credit based private educational loans. Interest is variable at prime plus. Repayment may begin immediately. Student need not be eligible for financial aid.
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.
MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) offers a variety of solutions to college financing needs, as well as a variety of other free informational services. MEFA is an not-for-profit state authority dedicated to keeping higher education affordable.
Citibank is a national student loan lender providing loans for non-matriculated undergraduate and graduate students(those students not currently enrolled in a degree program). MCLA also recommomends Citibank's CitiAssist Loan to students who are participating in our Leadership Academy Program. Click on their logo displayed above to visit their site.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
FastWEB
FastWEB (Financial Aid Search Through the WEB) is the largest and most complete scholarship search on the Internet. It provides access to a searchable database of more than 600,000 scholarships and awards totaling more than $1 billion.
