City scholarships available to Boston residents for college

Applications are now available for the 2018 City of Boston Scholarships, which are need-based scholarships for Boston residents interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree or continuing education in Massachusetts, according to the press release.

“The City of Boston Scholarship Fund helps turn our residents’ dreams of completing their post-secondary education into reality,” said Mayor Martin Walsh, according to the press release. “Giving our residents a helping hand in pursuing their degree is a wonderful investment in Boston’s future. I look forward to receiving many applications from talented students throughout Boston’s neighborhoods, and providing scholarships to our new class of Boston scholars.”

The scholarship would provide up to $10,000 over four years towards tuition. The City of Boston Scholarship fund relies on generous contributions from individuals, organizations, and corporations to further the goal of having more Boston residents complete a post-secondary education.

During the 2017-2018 academic year, a total of $275,000 was awarded to over 100 students from almost every neighborhood of Boston and over 25 local high schools, going towards education at 30 local colleges and universities.

The application process includes a recommendation form that assesses college and career readiness, three short-answer questions, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculator for students not eligible for FAFSA, and a clear recognition of financial need among continuing education students.

To be eligible for the City of Boston Scholarship, a student must have graduated from high school or completed a G.E.D. by the time awards are made, and must be planning to attend or currently attending a two- or four-year accredited post-secondary institution in Massachusetts. The deadline to submit applications for incoming freshmen is April 13 at 5 p.m.

“The cost of college tuition has increased by 45 percent in the last decade — a price rising faster than nearly any other good or service in America,” said Boston Chief of Education Turahn Dorsey, according to the press release. “Over the coming year, the Mayor’s Education Cabinet and the City’s Scholarship Committee will work with local students, educators, higher education officials, and college access experts to identify ways to ensure that all Boston students find an affordable way to access, and complete, a postsecondary education.”

Boston Public School graduates are also eligible for tuition-free community college at participating schools, including Bunker Hill Community College, MassBay Community College, and Roxbury Community College. The City of Boston’s website also has resources for students looking for funding for college, including an inventory of other local scholarships. For more information, visit boston.gov.

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