The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship is a performance initiative that offers a tuition credit for up to eight undergraduate semesters at a public institution or university in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test results from the 10th grade are used to determine eligibility for this grant.
The award’s goals are to encourage and recognize academic excellence, bring more top-performing students to public higher education in Massachusetts, and offer financial aid to families of college-bound children.
Host Schools
All schools included in the network of public research universities listed in Section 5 of Chapter 15A of the Massachusetts General Laws.
Values/Inclusions
The John and Abigail Adams Scholarship recipients are qualified to receive a merit-based tuition credit. At State Universities and Community Colleges, individual student grants may not exceed the residential undergraduate average tuition at the participating schools. At the University of Massachusetts, individual student scholarships will be worth $1,714 in Amherst, $1,714 in Boston, $1,417 in Dartmouth, and $1,454 in Lowell.
Requirements
A student enrolled in the class of 2015 or earlier must meet the following requirements to qualify for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship:
- Rank in the Proficient or Advanced level on the second topic and the Advanced category on either the English Language Arts or Mathematics sections of the Grade 10 MCAS test (Mathematics or English Language Arts).
- Be among the top 25% of students in their school district in terms of their aggregate MCAS score on these tests.
Students in the 2016 or later classes are required to:
- Pass one of the three high school state assessment exams in Mathematics, English Language Arts, or Stem (Chemistry, Biology, Introductory Physics, or Technology/Engineering) with a score in the Advanced category.
- Score well on the final two high school state assessment exams, either in the Proficient or Advanced categories.
- Be among the top 25% of students in their school district in terms of their aggregate MCAS score on these tests.
All students must also fulfill the following criteria:
- Either a citizen of the United States or a non-citizen who has been granted permission by the federal government to reside and work in the country either temporarily or permanently.
- Be registered full-time (not less than 12 credits or exactly that) in a certificate, associate’s, or bachelor’s program at a school that is eligible.
- Not hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification.
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid must be completed (FAFSA).
- Be following the Selective Service Registration laws that are in force.
- Must not owe a refund for any prior financial aid received or be in default with the law on any state or federal student school loans for tuition at any institution.
How to apply
The Abigail Adams Scholarship does not require an application process. In the autumn of their final year of high school, candidates will be notified.
Acceptance Rate
The scholarship program is reserved for only students in Massachusetts and has a low acceptance rate.
Deadline
None given
Contact
Education Executive Office
Call (617) 979-8337 to reach Bob LePage, Undersecretary for Career Education.
The Department of Higher Education’s main office is located at 1 Ashburton Place, Room 1401, Boston, Massachusetts 02108, and may be reached at (617) 994-6950.
Any other information
The Board of Higher Education’s goal is to give Massachusetts residents the chance to gain from postsecondary learning that improves their quality of life and increases their ability to contribute to the civic life, economic growth, and social advancement of the state. To that end, higher education in Massachusetts must offer programs and services that are accessible to the Commonwealth’s residents in all of their variety and that uphold quality standards consistent with the rewards it promises.