The starting point
Massachusetts flagship public with a three-award auto-merit structure: Chancellor's Award ($10k-$18k for OOS), Flagship Award ($6k-$10k for in-state low-income/first-gen), and Dean's Award ($2k for strong in-state); UMass recalculates every applicant's GPA in-house, so the in-house number — not the high-school GPA — drives the award.
Selection beyond grades and scores. These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.
Awards to discuss
The 3 awards in this school's research. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.
UMass Amherst Chancellor's Award
$10,000 - $18,000 per year · Published range
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Admitted first-year students from outside Massachusetts with especially strong academic and personal achievements. No application required. UMass recalculates a GPA for every applicant using the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education weighting standard — your high school's GPA is NOT used.
Renewal: Renewable up to 4 years (8 consecutive semesters) of full-time undergraduate enrollment at UMass Amherst with satisfactory academic progress. Award is not negotiable. Any change to residency status that reduces cost of attendance may trigger an aid adjustment.
Other terms: The Chancellor's Award is the OOS-only merit. Notification arrives with the admission decision in SPIRE. Cannot be combined with the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP) tuition break — students get one or the other.
https://www.umass.edu/financialaid/undergraduate/undergraduate-scholarships/umass-admissions-scholarships-and-awards
UMass Amherst Flagship Award
$6,000 - $10,000 per year · Published range
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: In-state Massachusetts first-year applicants who are low income and/or first-generation college attendees. Holistic review considers academic record, level of academic challenge, school activities, community service, and work experience. No application required.
Renewal: Renewable up to 4 years (8 semesters) for first-year students; up to 2 years (4 semesters) for transfer students; full-time enrollment + satisfactory academic progress required.
Other terms: Need-aware in-state award. May combine with a tuition credit.
https://www.umass.edu/financialaid/undergraduate/undergraduate-scholarships/umass-admissions-scholarships-and-awards
UMass Amherst Dean's Award
$2,000 per year ($1,000 per semester) · Published award terms
Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.
Eligibility: Admitted first-year students from Massachusetts with especially strong academic and personal achievements. No application required. UMass recalculates GPA in-house per MA Board of Higher Education standard.
Renewal: Renewable up to 4 years (8 consecutive semesters) of full-time undergraduate enrollment at UMass Amherst with satisfactory academic progress.
Other terms: In-state academic-strength award. Modest amount relative to in-state COA but stackable with Commonwealth Honors invitation and other awards.
https://www.umass.edu/financialaid/undergraduate/undergraduate-scholarships/umass-admissions-scholarships-and-awards
