Scholarships for four-year colleges are obtained in a variety of ways. Most scholarships are awarded by a college when a student completes the proper financial aid forms. There are still scholarship opportunities for students who are not eligible for the FAFSA. While some funding is available to students based on financial need, applying for scholarships and grants is a multi-step process. Finding scholarships involves doing research, achieving high grades, and being involved with your community. We have compiled these resources for you to begin your exploration.
Applying for Scholarships
Scholarships are usually offered by a college, community organizations, or the government.
Four-year colleges will either request that you complete the CSS Profile or apply in a separate application. The information can be found on their website. Please see CSS Profile below.
Community organizations are a great place to look as well. In addition to online search engines, consider checking the following sources: your high school, local businesses, cultural organizations, religious organizations, your school athletic teams, organization affiliations (such as banks), and be sure to ask your employer! See Search Engines below.
Students who are eligible for FAFSA related funding, can also use loans and grants to pay for college. Visit Types of Financial Aid: Loans, Grants, and Work-Study Programs .
Alpha Kappa Mu
To earn scholarships from four-year colleges, our first recommendation is to join Alpha Kappa Mu, the BHCC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Membership qualifies students for transfer scholarships at colleges and universities throughout the country.
Commonwealth Commitment
Through the Commonwealth Commitment, you could lower the cost of your bachelor's degree by as much as 49% by starting your studies at BHCC. It's the smart way to earn your degree!
Students entering into Commonwealth Commitment commit to enrolling full-time each Fall and Spring, graduate from BHCC within 2.5 years, and maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA throughout the program. Visit the Commonwealth Commitment website to learn more about the eligibility requirements.
Scholarships for DACA Recipients and Undocumented Students
Transfer Services is committed to supporting students who are undocumented or DACA recipients to achieve their transfer potential! We hope these resources will assist you as you pursue your goals.
Colleges with Scholarships
Many four-year colleges offer significant financial aid to transfer students. When students apply to a four-year college, they are generally considered for scholarships upon acceptance. Schools usually require the CSS Profile if they accept it, FAFSA, and/or a a separate application. Use this list to see opportunities available to transfer students at colleges in Massachusetts.
Search Engines and Organizations
It is important for students to conduct their own scholarship research as there are thousands of scholarships offered by independent providers. To get started, see the following search engines and organizations to begin your research.
| Search Engines |
|---|
| JLV College Counseling |
| FastWeb |
| Affordable Colleges |
| Scholarships.com |
| college.ai |
| Big Future |
| Organizations |
|---|
| Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship |
| New England Transfer Association |
| Achieving the Dream |
Search Engines for International Students
Here you can find organizations that provide scholarships to international students for their continuing education and transferring to four-year colleges and universities.
| Search Engines | Description |
|---|---|
| College Board (collegeboard.org) | Free online financial aid source for scholarships, grants, and loans for all college-bound students, including permanent residents and international students wishing to study in the United States. |
| FastWeb (fastweb.com) | Free online scholarship search service. |
| International Education Financial Aid (iefa.org) | Free online scholarship search service designed for international students. |
| International Scholarships (internationalscholarships.com) | Free online scholarship database for international students wishing to study worldwide. |
| Mobility International USA (miusa.org) | Free online scholarship resources for non–U.S. citizens with disabilities. |
| United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (unesco.org/new/en/fellowships/programmes/how-to-apply/) | Free online searchable database for scholarships for international students. |
CSS Profile
CSS Profile
We also encourage you to create a CSS Profile if you plan to apply to four-year private institutions. For more information, see a step-by-step presentation of completing the Profile. Many colleges use the CSS Profile to determine how much non-Federal financial aid a student will be awarded. The Profile is used by over 200 colleges in the United States, including 30 in Massachusetts. This service is available to students who are in-state, out-of-state, international, undocumented or have DACA status.
For assistance in completing the CSS Profile, schedule an appointment with MassEdco.