To Apply for Financial Aid
Our preferred filing date for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is March 1st though we continue to review applications for aid well after that date. Applications received after March 1st will be reviewed on a funds available basis. Please note that the FAFSA must be completed each year that a student wishes to be considered for federal, state, and institutional need based aid.
- Montserrat College of Art’s FAFSA school code is 013774.
- If chosen for verification documents are due by July 1 BEFORE the school year begins.
Merit Scholarships
Presidential Scholarships
All applicants who complete requirements for admission by preferred deadlines are eligible to be considered for one of Montserrat’s merit-based scholarship opportunities. These scholarships are based on the applicant’s portfolio and academic achievement. Students are informed of their Presidential Scholarship in their acceptance letter for admission.
Full Tuition Scholarships
Montserrat College of Art offers a limited number of full-tuition scholarships to those students who have significant academic achievement, demonstrate strong artistic talent, and showcase qualities that prove they are an ideal match for Montserrat’s environment both in and outside the classroom. Students are automatically considered for Montserrat’s Full Tuition Scholarships when they apply for admission to the College and are notified of this achievement in their acceptance letter.
Beverly Scholarship
Montserrat College of Art offers all Beverly citizens who meet the admission requirements a scholarship each year for four years if they enroll as full-time student. This applies to permanent citizens of Beverly who have lived in Beverly for a minimum of 2 years prior to attending Montserrat. This special scholarship is in recognition of the College’s interest to give back and educate artists in our community. This scholarship directly reduces the amount of any merit-based award.
NOTE REGARDING ABOVE SCHOLARSHIPS: Students who complete a FAFSA are also considered for additional need-based grant awards. Students who are awarded institutional financial aid (merit-based scholarships) must be full-time students, carrying a minimum of 12 credits, to receive the full award commitment from the college. Students who are awarded merit-based scholarships, but are carrying less than 12 credits, will have their institutional award prorated by their level of participation. Students must carry a minimum of 6 credits to qualify for institutional financial aid.
Federal Student Loan
When you complete a FAFSA you are not only applying for need based grants and scholarships, you are also applying for federal student loans. Make sure you carefully read all of the details pertaining to the various loan options. We recommend that you review and compare all of your financing resources to ensure you are selecting the best choice for your needs.
Montserrat College of Art recommends that our students and parents consider all federal loan options before considering an alternative loan. The US Department of Education provides information on the differences between Federal and private loan programs on their website: Federal Student Aid.
For students: A subsidized federal loan is a need based loan. The federal government subsidizes the interest while you are in school and during authorized periods of deferment.
An unsubsidized federal Direct Stafford loan is not a need based loan. You will be charged interest on the portion that disburses to Montserrat College of Art (generally ½ in the fall and ½ in the spring).
New students must complete a Master Promissory note and complete Loan Entrance Counseling before a loan can be disbursed.
Federal and State Grants
Federal Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree by completing a FAFSA. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a postbaccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.) Additionally, you may be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant if you are confined or incarcerated and enrolled in an approved Prison Education Program, or are subject to an involuntary civil commitment upon completion of a period of incarceration for a forcible or nonforcible sexual offense. For more information, please visit studentaid.gov.
A Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. The financial aid office administers the FSEOG program directly. For more information, please visit studentaid.gov.
MASSGrants are funded by the state Legislature and provide need-based financial assistance to undergraduate students who reside in Massachusetts. To qualify, students must be enrolled full-time and in good academic standing. For more information, please visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Massachusetts Gilbert Grant is a grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who reside in Massachusetts.The Gilbert Grant is administered directly by the financial aid office. Students must be enrolled full-time and be in good academic standing to qualify. For more information, please visit the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Private Scholarships
At Montserrat College of Art, we are proud that our students have gone out to their communities, local organizations, and charities to apply for and receive additional scholarships. Private scholarships vary, but typically, organizations will grant funds directly to the student, or send them directly to the Student Financial Services Office.
For more information, please visit our Outside Scholarships page.